Irish winger Liam Lawrence is focusing on another six point haul as Ireland face a pivotal week in their Euro 2012 qualifying group.
Ireland launched their Group campaign with victories over Armenia and Andorra last month, but will take a significant step-up in class over the next few days when they meet Russia and Slovakia, who are first and second seeded teams in Ireland's Group.
Dick Advocaat’s Russia side arrive in Dublin for Friday night’s clash at Lansdowne Road still angry after their 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Slovakians in Moscow, and a positive result for Giovanni Trapattoni’s men would send them to Zilina next Tuesday knowing they could strike a significant blow in the race for qualification.
Lawrence for one believes all six points are there for the taking.
The 27-year-old Portsmouth midfielder said: “I think we can give anyone a game and we can beat anybody, and I do think that six points is within our reach.
“They are two massive games, especially on Friday. It’s going to be a really tough game, but we have come through these tough games in the past and we have got to again.
“They will be stung a little bit and they will be hurting from that defeat.
“I am not sure they will be looking forward to coming here, so hopefully we can catch them again and we can get the win.”
Speaking about Ireland's resolve Lawrence said: “That will be put to the test on Friday because they are one of the biggest sides in the world and they have got some fantastic players.
“But it is going to be up to us, it’s on our turf and hopefully we will give them a good game.
“We have learnt from those games in the past and hopefully it will stand us in good stead for Friday because we are going to have to call upon all our experience and everything we have got for these two games.”
Lawrence started both games last month despite heading away on international duty with his move from Stoke to Portsmouth still up in the air, and is in line to win his 11th senior cap against Russia.
That could bring him into direct conflict with Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin as he attempts to provide support for full-back John O’Shea.
Asked how he will deal with the hugely-talented Russian, he said with a smile: “I will just leave him to Josh – that’s his job.
“He is a fantastic player, he is brilliant. He does it week in, week out and we will certainly have to watch him.
“We will have to double up all over the pitch – but that’s when we are at our best, when we are pressing teams and getting at them and hunting them down.”
At club level, Lawrence is simply happy to be back playing regular 1st team football, even if it is in the Championship, after finding himself surplus to requirements at the Britannia Stadium, and is confident that will benefit him in his international career.
He said: “I had to leave Stoke to play regular football, and I feel now I am getting back to the player I was 18 months or a year ago.
“I know you say it’s a lesser league, but I just need to be playing regularly and I will be better when I come to these games now.”
Stoke and Ireland midfielder Liam Lawrence expects to complete his move to Celtic when fellow Ireland international Aiden McGeady finally leaves the Parkhead club.
McGeady will pen a four-year deal with Spartak Moscow this week and hand boss Neil Lennon an extra £9.5million towards his transfer kitty as he tries to reshape his squad ahead of the start of the SPL season.
Lawrence has been a long-time target of the Hoops and reckons his transfer will be given the green light when McGeady jets out to Russia.
He said: “Well, that’s what I’ve been told. I want a new challenge and, if it comes about, I will be chomping at the bit to achieve things at Celtic because they need to push this year and win things again.
“I have had some little bits of banter with Aiden as well.
“I spoke to him the other day and fired him a text because I knew he was off to Russia. I’m not telling you what I said though.
“It’s a massive, massive move for him and it’s an important decision both football-wise and for him and his missus.”
The capture of the Irish international will represent the next piece of the jigsaw for Lennon as he continues his summer rebuilding work.
And Lawrence insists the Hoops are still an attractive prospect despite their Champions League exit at the hands of Braga last week.
“I’m not one of those players who say they want to move because a club is in the Champions League,” he said.
Giovanni Trapattoni urged his Ireland players to believe in their ability after beating World Cup qualifiers Paraguay 2-1.
While Paraguay booked their ticket to South Africa with two games to spare, Ireland were denied a place at next month's finals in a controversial play-off with France.
Yet although the South Americans had already played three warm-up matches and bossed possession, they struggled to break down the Republic defence and the hosts were more incisive in attack.
Wolves striker Kevin Doyle headed a seventh-minute opener before Stoke midfielder Liam Lawrence fired home in the 39th minute.
And although Argentina-born striker Lucas Barrios marked his Paraguay debut with a 58th-minute strike, Ireland held on to claim an impressive success.
"I told the players before the game to remember three of our last four opponents - Italy, France and Brazil," Trapattoni told Sky Sports.
"We have to remember we are a good team because we played against these teams at a good level and I think they believed me.
"The first half I saw our team play with mentality, attitude and attention.
"Second half we must forget because some players have been on holiday. We had only two days together (before the game) so maybe second half we were down and missing some strength.
"The result was important but what was more important was our performance, and I think we deserved to win."
Trapattoni handed senior international debuts to Paul Green, Cillian Sheridan and Keith Fahey off the bench in the second half.
And they may feature more as Ireland aim to follow up the morale-boosting victory by claiming another World Cup scalp on Friday, with England's Group C opponents Algeria visiting the RDS Arena.
"For us, it's important we repeat the performance," added Trapattoni.
"I said before that maybe after just two days together we wouldn't have the same strength and the same condition.
"But I have confidence with the new players today, like Paul Green for the last 30 minutes, he played well.
"I think we must now think about a few new players (against Algeria)."
Kevin Doyle was delighted with Ireland’s 2-1 win over Paraguay in the friendly international match played at the RDS in Dublin yesterday
Doyle and Liam Lawrence scored in the first half as Ireland recorded a victory against their World Cup-bound opponents.
“It’s a win, they’re going to the World Cup and we’re not so it’s a good win for us,” Doyle reflected..
“They’re going to be well trained and we beat them pretty convincingly.
“We looked pretty solid and played well.”
Paraguay pulled a goal back through Lucas Barrios in the second half and became more of a threat, with Doyle admitting the home side perhaps began to feel the pace.
“It’s been a good few weeks since some of us had a game and maybe it started to show a little,” the Wolves forward added.
“They’re the opposite and they were probably a bit sharper come the end.
“But it was a chance for us to be together again, it was another good performance and a good win.
“It all will hopefully count when the European Championship qualifiers come round.”
Stoke City and Ireland midfielder Liam Lawrence has set his sights on a summer move away from the Potters to join Wolves.
The 28-year-old has dropped down the pecking order at the Britannia Stadium and is keen to move on to try and secure more regular first-team football and secure his future on the international stage.
He told the Sunday Mercury: "He (Mick McCarthy) gave me my chance when he signed me from Mansfield Town for Sunderland.
"He's a great manager and he's done an amazing job this year keeping Wolves up.
"I've spoken to the manager (Tony Pulis) and told him that I think it's best if I move on.
"If I'm not playing regularly the Ireland manager, he's not daft, he's going to know that I'm going to be rusty and he's not going to take a chance on me."
Lawrence has been an integral part of Goivanni Trapattoni’s Ireland squad over the last two years and played an important role in the central midfield position during the last World Cup qualifying campaign.
Lawrence joined Stoke in November 2006 and has gone on to score 24 goals in 125 appearances in all competitions.
Liam Lawrence says he wants more regular football to keep alive his Ireland career and this could mean his leaving Stoke is search of more regular starts for his club team.
He revealed that Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has warned him that he must find regular first-team football.
The 28 year old midfielder, scored in Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Hull but is unhappy with how this season has gone.
Lawrence said: ‘I’ve not done as well as I’ve wanted. I’ve been in and out of the side, which hasn’t helped. I’ve spoken at length to the manager (Tony Pulis). We’ve had a couple of meetings.
‘We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. I just want to play football. Being in the Premier League at a good team like Stoke, it’s not guaranteed.
‘Trapattoni has spoken to me about it and I do need to be playing to keep involved with the squad.
'To play me in the massive games that he did for Ireland gave me massive confidence and he’s a fantastic manager.’
Lawrence admitted that his form has fortunes have gone downhill since Ireland’s World Cup play-off heartbreak.
He said: ‘When I’ve come back to Stoke, sometimes I’ve not played as well as I can do and maybe that’s why I’ve not played as regularly.
'After the France game, I came back and was in and out. It’ s just been one of those seasons and it’s been the worst since I’ve been at Stoke.
‘I don’t know if it’s because of the disappointment of losing to France. It’s down to me now. I’ve just got to keep my head down and try to stay in the team for the rest of the season.’
The former Sunderland player, who has been at Stoke since January 2007, explained his emotional celebration after scoring on Saturday by saying: ‘It was a massive relief. I’ve bided my time this season. I’m feeling stronger all the time.’
It was his first goal since he scored against the same opponents at the KC Stadium last May.
A great free-kick by man of the match Liam Lawrence gave Ireland victory over South Africa in Limerick tonight.
Stoke City midfielder Lawrence set a curling and dipping 37th-minute strike beyond the dive of South Africa goalkeeper Fernandez.
Speaking after the game Lawrence said he was "absolutely delighted" to score and said "everyone had given a good account of themselves"
The decisive goal came against the run of play as South Africa had created a lot of early pressure.
However, Ireland should have doubled their lead in the second half but sub Leon Best's shot was well saved.
Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni had made a string of changes for the low-key Limerick friendly.
Only Kevin Doyle, Keith Andrews and Sean St Ledger remained from the side which beat Cyprus 2-1 in Saturday's World Cup eight qualifier in Nicosia.
Ireland captain Kevin Doyle said "it was a good win in difficult conditions and so many fresh faces, we had the better chances and worked hard for the win"
