Estonia Puts on Brave Face for Dublin Match
The Estonian National Football Team arrived in Dublin on Sunday where it has since been preparing for what the majority of pundits see as a mere formality at this point - the second leg of the Euro 2012 playoffs against Ireland, to be held November 15.
The team's heartbreaking 0-4 defeat at the hands of the visitors in Tallinn on Friday has all but shut the door on Estonia's chance to take part in what would be its first European Championship in Poland and Ukraine next summer.
Coaches and players have nevertheless been trying to put on brave faces for the upcoming match.
"The main goal today was to get the body back to work and do light, active training to get the spirit ready for a new battle," Assistant Coach Janno Kivisild told ETV.
"There's a hunger to give our best and show that what happened in Tallinn was an accident, which sometimes happens in football," he said.
The Blueshirts will, however, have to show their best without some of their best players.
Skipper Raio Piiroja and defender Andrei Stepanov were each given two yellow cards in the Tallinn leg of the match. They will be replaced by Taavi Rähn and Ragnar Klavan.
Perhaps even more worrying for the Estonian side is that goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko was also dealt a yellow card. Coach Tarmo Rüütli has said that he has every confidence in Pavel Londak, who will be replacing Pareiko between the posts tomorrow.
In an interview with UEFA.com, Estonian star player Konstantin Vassiljev said that despite the slim chances of a win, his team is ready for a fight.
"We all have a huge desire to play a decent game and achieve a positive result. We have to end the cycle on a positive note whether we will go forward or not," he said. "I think that we and our fans deserve a good last game of the year. Why not win?"
Steve Roman