Euro 2012: Armenia v Republic of Ireland Team News

Tagged under: Euro 2012

Online bookmakers are offering free bets to new customers and cash back specials for this afternoon’s Euro 2012 Group B qualifying game between Armenia and Republic of Ireland at the Yereven Republican Stadium. Giovanni Trapatttoni’s Republic of Ireland team are strong favourites to beat an Armenian national side that has never qualified for a major international football tournament. Along with Andorra, Armenia are the anticipated whipping boys in Group B and Ireland will consider Russia and Slovakia the main obstacles to qualification for the tournament finals in two years time. Betfred are offering odds of 8/11 for Republic of Ireland to win this fixture while Totesport bet 13/5 the draw and 9/2 Armenia. Trapattoni’s men can’t afford to be complacent in this game however, as Armenia showed they are capable of causing an upset during their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign. A year ago at today’s venue, Armenia beat Bulgaria 2-1 and the following month gave eventual World Cup winners Spain a scare when narrowly beaten 2-1 in their final home fixture. Armenian coach, Vardan Minasyan shares his international responsibilities with managing the country’s top club side Pyunik Yereven. He has been working his home based players on regular 3-day training camps each month, so Ireland can expect to face a well organised outfit. Minasyan has called on defender Robert Arzumanyan and forward Yura Movsisyan from Danish club Randers FC. Ireland have a number of injury problems, Damien Duff, Paul McShane and Keith Andrews will all miss out. Derby County midfielder Paul Green is preferred to Darron Gibson and will partner Glen Whelan in central midfield. Aiden McGeady will get a run at left wing while Sean St Ledger comes into central defence alongside Richard Dunne. Probable starting line ups: ARMENIA: Berezovski; Hovsepyan, Arzumanyan, Mkoyan, Arthur Yedigaryan; Artak Yedigaryan, Mkrtchyan; Mkhitaryan; Pachajyan, Movsisyan, Manucharyan IRELAND: Given; O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane; Lawrence, Green, Whelan, McGeady; Doyle, Keane.

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