Gibraltar talk up Republic of Ireland as minnows plot upset

Gibraltar boss Julio Ribas is refusing to be taken in by the Republic of Ireland's mounting problems as he looks for a famous victory.

The 66-year-old Uruguayan will send his side into Euro 2024 qualifier battle against their Group B rivals in Faro on Monday evening still seeking a first point, but only three worse off than Stephen Kenny's men having played a game fewer.

Ireland's timid 2-0 home defeat by Greece on Friday ended their mathematical hopes of automatic qualification and left Kenny facing a fresh tide of criticism despite assurances that he will remain in post until the end of campaign next month, and anything other than a comprehensive win at the Estadio Algarve could prompt a rethink.

However, asked if Gibraltar could cash in on the Republic's poor run of form, Ribas said: "Obviously I don't think that way, I have to prepare my players for 94 to 100 minutes.

"The players need to prepare themselves to think that way and we will see if the result will come.

"I am not going to sit here and predict the future, we have to prepare for the game and that's 100% what we are thinking about now, not the result."

Ireland made hard work of beating Gibraltar 3-0 at the Aviva Stadium in June, when it took second-half goals from substitutes Mikey Johnston and Adam Idah either side of Evan Ferguson's strike to secure the points.

The European minnows were similarly dogged when the sides last met during Euro 2020 qualification when Jeff Hendrick's strike clinched a 1-0 win on the artificial pitch at the Victoria Stadium before Joseph Chipolina's own goal and a late Robbie Brady effort earned a 2-0 victory in Dublin.

Asked if this was the best chance yet for his team to get a result against Ireland, Ribas said: "As I said before and