Here's hoping not to have a Macedonia..

Glen Whelan [Nineteen 21 Photography]

The senior members of Ireland's squad know from experience how dangerous an opponent FYR of Macedonia can be with Ireland about to face Macedonia for the fifth time in competitive and chasing three points in a bid for a place in the UEFA EURO 2012 Championship final tournament in Ukraine/Poland.

The senior players in the squad - Damien Duff, Robbie Keane, Kevin Kilbane - will not need reminding of the manner in which FYR Macedonia unravelled Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the EURO 2000 finals in Belgium/Holland when it seemed the desired task had been completed.

Ireland had been drawn in a group with Yugoslavia, Croatia, Malta and the FYR Macedonia. And they had diligently advanced through the demanding competition to reach the point where a win over Macedonia in their final match in Skopje would clinch top spot in the group and an automatic qualifying place in the finals.

It is history now that Ireland led 1-0 through a goal from Niall Quinn after 18 minutes of that match in Skopje on October 9, 1999. But qualification for the finals was snatched from their grasp as Macedonia equalised with a goal in added time.

Ireland were obliged to go into a play-off with Turkey and lost in heart-breaking fashion to the ‘away' goal after the teams had drawn 1-1 in Dublin and 0-0 in Turkey.

Clearly Macedonia have the capacity to frustrate Ireland's hopes again. They have accumulated four points from their four games to date - three points behind Ireland and five behind leaders Russia. They lost 0-1 to Slovakia away, drew with Armenia at home, beat Andorra 2-0 away and lost 0-1 to Russia at home.

The return to their team of Inter Milan striker, Goran Pandev, after missing two games will give them a huge lift. Manager Mirsad Jonuz, perhaps emboldened by the return of the talented Pandev, has promised an attacking approach to the task of defeating Ireland.

The contest in Group B in so intense that any loss of points could be fatal, even at this stage. All the teams have played four matches and Russia enjoy an important advantage on nine points, with Ireland, Armenia and Slovakia all two points behind, FYR of Macedonia on four points and Andorra at the bottom without a point.