Stephen Hunt wants positive result
Stephen Hunt has said he was desperate to help erase a nightmare from the Irish psyche in Cyprus on Saturday evening.
Wednesday, 02 September 2009
The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder and his team-mates head into Saturday's World Cup qualifier in Nicosia determined to return with a positive result.
Victory over the Cypriots would maintain the Republic's quest to challenge world champions and Group Eight leaders Italy for automatic qualification for next summer's finals in South Africa.
It would also help soothe the memories of a 5-2 European Championship qualifier defeat in Nicosia almost two years ago which left their hopes in shreds and the nation in shock.
Asked about the debacle in 2007, Hunt said: "I didn't watch it, I didn't see it. It was three years ago (sic). I saw the goals.
"It's still fresh in people's minds who were there, but it's gone now.
"Cyprus? Good team. They haven't had the results they deserve and we have to go out there and hope they stay unlucky."
Having drawn their last two away games in Italy and Bulgaria, Hunt is targeting all three points and what could be a decisive victory this time around.
He said: "To qualify, we have to win three. Italy have that way about them that they will always do just enough to qualify, and we need to win away to put pressure on them."
The fact that the Irish are very much in contention at the top of the group is testament to the job Trapattoni has done since taking up his post in May last year.
Hunt said: "He's been good for Ireland. We are in with a chance of qualifying for a World Cup and to be honest, not many people would have thought that after the last campaign.
"So he's obviously doing something right and the players are behind him. We have got a belief that we can go all the way."
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