22 METROSPORT Tuesday, November 17, 2009 D Confident Duff plans a historic turnaround GettinG the better of France in Paris tomorrow night to qualify for the World Cup finals next summer would represent the greatest result yet in irish football history, insists Damien Duff. And long overdue a goal in green, the ireland wing wizard suggested his 80th cap at the Sta- de de France would be the perfect time to add to his seven strikes to date. Massive, yeah, said Duff when asked of the task in hand, 1-0 down from the first leg at Croke Park. Weve obviously given ourselves an uphill task. Away goals are a massive thing in football, but if we go over there and nick one its gameonagain so were all confident we can go and do it. You have to be. Should ireland turn it around, Duff was unequivocal that it would the best result of his inter- national career. Without doubt. We have taken an awful lot of positives out of Saturday. Other people may not have, but we think we can go there and do it. it was in March 2006 that Duff last scored for ireland and he would relish putting that right in a significant way in Paris. it would be nice. im due one, said Fulham winger Duff, whose last goal was in a friendly against Sweden on Steve Stauntons managerial debut. ive been getting them at club level so im due one with the in- ternational team. it would be nice. i feel good, i feel sharp, so i dont see why not. France may hold all the aces, but Duff believes ireland can trouble them with the return of a little rub of the green. they keep the ball well, better than us, but when it came down to chances they didnt really create a lot. they did have an awful lot of possession, but when we got in about them we did create things and i think we can do it again. We kept our shape, which is what we do and some- thing we do an awful lot of work on. i suppose that is why we are in the play- offs. it has worked well for us in the past. [it was] a lucky goal ... every- one says about the luck of the irish, but i dont think we have really had much of it over the past few campaigns. Duff says he has never been in this situation before, chasing a tie having lost the home leg. i was actually thinking about that there this morning first thing when i woke up. i dont think ive gone away behind looking to resurrect a tie, so to speak, so its new to me and im sure its new to an awful lot of the lads. We just have to go there and enjoy it. We still think we can do it, so bring it on. Due a goal: Damien Duff in training yesterday Picture: Sportsfile By eDDie cleary Everyone says the luck of the Irish, but we havent had much IRELAND will head into their decisive World Cup play-off clash with France at full strength. There were no fresh injury problems for boss Giovanni Trapattoni as he continued his preparations for Wednesdays must-win encounter in Paris. But Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby will be missing for Les Bleus, the French football federation confirmed yesterday. Diaby hurt his left calf playing for Arsenal against Wolves earlier this month and has now left the camp, but will not be replaced. Full-back Eric Abidal, who lined out at Croke Park, is ruled out by a thigh injury while Jeremy Toulalan is unavailable because of a hamstring injury. It leaves coach Raymond Domenech with no cover in central midfield for Alou Diarra and Lassana Diarra. SOCCER worlD cup play-off FRANCE striker Nicolas Anelka has warned his team-mates they cannot afford to defend the 1-0 advantage they hold over the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup play-off second leg. Anelka gave the French a fortunate lead after his deflected second-half shot separated the teams following a closely fought first leg at Croke Park on Saturday night. As a result Raymond Domenechs side will be firm favourites to qualify before next summers World Cup finals when the teams resume hostilities in Paris, although Anelka remains wary. The 30-year-old Chelsea striker, who has never been picked in a France World Cup finals squad, believes they must attack their visitors if they are to confirm their place in South Africa. We will play to win on Wednesday because thats the only way we can play freely, and we also want to give the fans something good at Stade de France, Anelka said. Of course its good to score away from home, its a play-off so its very important. Its satisfying because we wanted to come here and show that we could get a good result. But we shouldnt get carried away, anything can happen. And Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra knows there is still work to be done before under-pressure coach Domenech can heave a huge sigh of relief. Evra (pictured) said: It is just half-time. Ireland will come to the Stade de France for a win and we need to be strong again and win that game. Its very important. Now it is only one game. France want to go to the World Cup I want to win on Wednesday and go to the World Cup. No letting up: anelka wants france to go for victory in paris Anelka warns France to go for the jugular GOLF: Tom Watson could play in The Open beyond next years tournament at St Andrews under new rules being brought in by the Royal and Ancient. The American was one putt away from lifting a record-equalling sixth Claret Jug at Turnberry in July and at 59 would have been the oldest major winner of all-time by a staggering 11 years. Now 60, Watson would have lost his past champions exemption next summer under the old rules. But the R&A has responded not just to his performance but also to that of 54-year-old Greg Norman, who at Birkdale last year led with nine holes to play before eventually finishing third. A new entry category has been introduced for the 2010 Open which exempts from qualifying any past champion who finished in the top ten and ties in any of the previous five Opens, effectively providing them with a five-year exemption. We have introduced this as a direct response to seeing two of our great Open champions, both in their fifties, challenging to win our championship these last two years, explained Peter Dawson, the R&A chief executive. RORy McILROyS second place at the Hong Kong Open has lifted him to a career high 13th in the world rankings. GOLF: Michelle Wie has claimed her first LPGA Tour title with victory at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico. Wies three-under-par 69 saw her finish two shots ahead of Paula Creamer, while a round of 67 from Morgan Pressel meant a tie for third along with overnight leader Cristie Kerr and Jiyai Shin. Wie, 20, carded five straight pars before sealing the victory on the last, a 30-yard bunker shot landing a foot from the hole for a tap-in birdie. I was just focusing on not hitting anyone in the crowd, said Wie when asked about the winning shot. Its a shot that I feel comfortable with. I just went up and walked to it, looked at it, and hit it. I didnt give myself any time to doubt myself. TeNNiS: Top-ten duo rafael Nadal and fernando Verdasco have returned to the Spain side for next months Davis cup final against czech republic, captain albert costa said yesterday. David ferrer and feliciano lopez complete the four-man team for the December 4-6 tie in Barcelona, where Spain will seek a fourth title in ten years. world No.2 Nadal has not played for Spain since their first-round win over Serbia in March due to injury and also missed the 2008 final, but on Sunday he said: The Davis cup is my main objective remaining for the year. To play in the palau Sant Jordi, where i carried the team flag in 2000, and experience that now as a player and not a spectator will be a marvellous experience. SPORTDigest five-year exemption: watson Open extends invitation to Tom index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html