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FEARLESS ARMENIA TRANSFORMED FROM SIDE BEATEN IN YEREVAN
By Liam Kelly
Irish Independent
Oct 11 2011
ONE more step to clinch a Euro 2012 qualifier play-off for Giovanni
Trapattoni's men, but who would have believed that little Armenia
would arrive with confidence high and neutral observers tipping them
to shock us in Dublin?
Four goals scored against Macedonia last Friday, and four against
Slovakia away in September, have bought one of Europe's minnows some
serious street cred.
So should the fans who will throng the Aviva Stadium tonight get the
worry beads out?
Not if the Irish players perform to their capabilities, says former
international striker Frank Stapleton, who has twice scouted Armenia
for Trapattoni.
Stapleton first viewed Armenia v Uzbekistan (3-1) in a friendly back
in May 2010 before the qualifying series began, and he saw them in
Lithuania last August, when they won 3-0.
"They've got a decent work ethic and with the results they've achieved,
they demand respect," he said.
"They're not a big physical team. Obviously they're playing with
the most confidence they've ever had and this is the best run in
their history.
"I would expect us to win but it won't be comfortable because we'll
never make it comfortable for ourselves.
"We've got to go out and play to our capabilities and keep our cool.
That's the strength of the manager. He'll calm the players and will
be very positive in what he wants from them."
ARMENIA gained its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991
and a year later its football federation came into existence.
History was made when they played their first international on October
14, 1992 against Moldova.
Their first venture into an international tournament was in 1994
away to Belgium -- lost 2-0 -- when Armenia opened their qualifying
campaign for Euro '96. In September 1995, Macedonia were the first
country Armenia defeated in competitive football.
Since then they have settled in as part of the international football
family in UEFA and FIFA qualifiers without achieving the holy grail
of reaching a major finals.
They have eight clubs playing in the Armenian Premier League, but
their better players tend to operate mainly in Russia and the Ukraine.
Ian Porterfield, the former Sunderland star, managed the team from
2006-07. He is credited with improving the mindset of the international
team. However, he died in '07 of cancer.
Present coach Vardan Minasyan was an assistant to Porterfield,
and took charge of the senior side in '09. He is benefiting from
the ongoing development of good talent at under-age level to bring
Armenia to a new level.
THE Irish team went to Armenia in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier
and escaped with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of a 76th-minute goal by
Keith Fahey.
Since then, Minasyan has overhauled his team to the extent that
only six of the players who started against Ireland in September of
last year featured from the outset in their 4-1 win over Macedonia
last Friday,
They were goalkeeper Roman Berezovski, defender and captain Sargus
Hovsepyan, midfielders Karlen Lazarian, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Artur
Edigaryan and striker Yura Moysisyan.
Striker Marcos Pizelli, who scored against Macedonia, was an unused
sub in the game against Ireland.
Mkhitaryan (22) of Shakhtar Donetsk has since grown in stature and
has scored five times in the campaign -- as has Gevorg Ghazaryan.
Another big threat comes from 24- year-old Moysisyan, who has notched
up four goals from 10 appearances, having made his competitive debut
against Ireland in Yerevan.
ANY team that can hammer Slovakia 4-0 away and get another four against
Macedonia must be respected, it's really all about the Irish players
and their approach tonight.
The confidence which was clearly flowing through the players when
they gathered in Dublin last week should only be enhanced by the win
in Andorra.
Yes, it was only 2-0, but Russia didn't do any better in the tiny
principality in the Pyrenees.
And before we make too much of Armenia, let's realise they caught
Slovakia on the hop, with the Slovaks over-confident after emerging
from Dublin with a hard-fought draw.
It should be noted that Macedonia are in the early stages of new
management under John Toshack, and they had nothing to play for
last Friday.
Toshack doesn't have much time to get to know his players and his
selection options, so that was a ripe opportunity for Armenia.
Credit to Armenia for justifying the respect they gained from the
Irish players after that 1-0 win back in September 2010, but they
need to be put firmly in their place at the Aviva Stadium tonight.
Three points please, and let's march into the play-offs with heads
held high.
- Liam Kelly
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/fearless-armenia-transformed-from-side-beaten-in-yerevan-2901613.html
By Liam Kelly
Irish Independent
Oct 11 2011
ONE more step to clinch a Euro 2012 qualifier play-off for Giovanni
Trapattoni's men, but who would have believed that little Armenia
would arrive with confidence high and neutral observers tipping them
to shock us in Dublin?
Four goals scored against Macedonia last Friday, and four against
Slovakia away in September, have bought one of Europe's minnows some
serious street cred.
So should the fans who will throng the Aviva Stadium tonight get the
worry beads out?
Not if the Irish players perform to their capabilities, says former
international striker Frank Stapleton, who has twice scouted Armenia
for Trapattoni.
Stapleton first viewed Armenia v Uzbekistan (3-1) in a friendly back
in May 2010 before the qualifying series began, and he saw them in
Lithuania last August, when they won 3-0.
"They've got a decent work ethic and with the results they've achieved,
they demand respect," he said.
"They're not a big physical team. Obviously they're playing with
the most confidence they've ever had and this is the best run in
their history.
"I would expect us to win but it won't be comfortable because we'll
never make it comfortable for ourselves.
"We've got to go out and play to our capabilities and keep our cool.
That's the strength of the manager. He'll calm the players and will
be very positive in what he wants from them."
ARMENIA gained its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991
and a year later its football federation came into existence.
History was made when they played their first international on October
14, 1992 against Moldova.
Their first venture into an international tournament was in 1994
away to Belgium -- lost 2-0 -- when Armenia opened their qualifying
campaign for Euro '96. In September 1995, Macedonia were the first
country Armenia defeated in competitive football.
Since then they have settled in as part of the international football
family in UEFA and FIFA qualifiers without achieving the holy grail
of reaching a major finals.
They have eight clubs playing in the Armenian Premier League, but
their better players tend to operate mainly in Russia and the Ukraine.
Ian Porterfield, the former Sunderland star, managed the team from
2006-07. He is credited with improving the mindset of the international
team. However, he died in '07 of cancer.
Present coach Vardan Minasyan was an assistant to Porterfield,
and took charge of the senior side in '09. He is benefiting from
the ongoing development of good talent at under-age level to bring
Armenia to a new level.
THE Irish team went to Armenia in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier
and escaped with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of a 76th-minute goal by
Keith Fahey.
Since then, Minasyan has overhauled his team to the extent that
only six of the players who started against Ireland in September of
last year featured from the outset in their 4-1 win over Macedonia
last Friday,
They were goalkeeper Roman Berezovski, defender and captain Sargus
Hovsepyan, midfielders Karlen Lazarian, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Artur
Edigaryan and striker Yura Moysisyan.
Striker Marcos Pizelli, who scored against Macedonia, was an unused
sub in the game against Ireland.
Mkhitaryan (22) of Shakhtar Donetsk has since grown in stature and
has scored five times in the campaign -- as has Gevorg Ghazaryan.
Another big threat comes from 24- year-old Moysisyan, who has notched
up four goals from 10 appearances, having made his competitive debut
against Ireland in Yerevan.
ANY team that can hammer Slovakia 4-0 away and get another four against
Macedonia must be respected, it's really all about the Irish players
and their approach tonight.
The confidence which was clearly flowing through the players when
they gathered in Dublin last week should only be enhanced by the win
in Andorra.
Yes, it was only 2-0, but Russia didn't do any better in the tiny
principality in the Pyrenees.
And before we make too much of Armenia, let's realise they caught
Slovakia on the hop, with the Slovaks over-confident after emerging
from Dublin with a hard-fought draw.
It should be noted that Macedonia are in the early stages of new
management under John Toshack, and they had nothing to play for
last Friday.
Toshack doesn't have much time to get to know his players and his
selection options, so that was a ripe opportunity for Armenia.
Credit to Armenia for justifying the respect they gained from the
Irish players after that 1-0 win back in September 2010, but they
need to be put firmly in their place at the Aviva Stadium tonight.
Three points please, and let's march into the play-offs with heads
held high.
- Liam Kelly
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/fearless-armenia-transformed-from-side-beaten-in-yerevan-2901613.html