| Republic of Ireland v Russia – live! • Follow Northern Ireland v Italy with Scott Murray• Follow all tonight's live scores around Europe• Hit F5 or turn on autorefresh for the latest updates• Email rob.smyth@guardian.co.uk• Follow Rob's new football history website6 min "Russians, the flamboyant metrosexuals that they are, seem to have putout quite an attacking formation, with Dzagoev getting a rare start," says Andrei Scudder. "They are going for the jugular it seems." You took the words out of my fingers.5 min Dzagoev breaks away from Green in midfield, runs to within 20 yards of goal and then swooshes a shot a few yards wide of the near post. Given watches it go by with impressive disdain.4 min A fairly scruffy start. Ireland seem content to play as the away side, sitting in and then breaking sharply. It's as if they're managed by an Italian.2 min Shirokov dives risibly in the Ireland area under a vague challenge from Sean St Ledger. The referee doesn't buy it.1 min Russia, in dark red, kick off from left to right. There's a cracking atmosphere. With it being Friday night, booze may or may not have entered the fray at some stage.A pointless waffle to kill some time This morning, I sent an almost identical text to my aunt and uncle. There was just one difference: I put an X on the end of hers. And then I wondered how my uncle - a man's man, the sort Tony Soprano would respect, nothing like me - would react if I'd put an X on the end of his. Of course, it is increasingly commonplace for heterosexual men to sign off a text or email to another heterosexual man with an 'X' or seven. Nathan Barley was always going to be horribly prescient, but I didn't expect this spin on the idea of straight-on-straight gay action. Going stray, and not even for pay. I mean really, come on. We know you're a modern, metrosexual man; we know you dabbled at university; it's okay.The weird thing is, it's not the preserve of tools. Good, smart people do it. I love many people who do it; I just don't want to sign off my texts to them with a kiss. And before some fool says it, this is not homophobia. I am chillingly, dangerously comfortable with my sexuality, just not my textuality. I've never really understood X-iquette between friends of the opposite sexual persuasion anyway - you're friends and, if you really want to kiss her, just go right up and tell her - but went along without really questioning it, a nodding sheepdog called Bob. This is another step entirely, another of these dismal phoney constructs that have become increasingly ubiquitous. I just don't see the point. Am I missing something?Team newsRep of Ireland (4-4-2) Given; O'Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Kilbane;Green, Whelan, Lawrence, McGeady; Keane, Doyle.Subs: Westwood, Fahey, McShane, Long, Gibson, Keogh, Cunningham.Russia (4-3-3) Akinfeev; Aniukov, Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutsky, Zhirkov; Denisov, Shirokov, Zyryanov; Arshavin, Kerzhakov, Dzagoev.Subs: Gabulov, Alexei Berezutsky, Semshov, Pogrebniak, Bystrov, Bilyaletdinov, Bukharov.Referee Kevin Blom (Holland)Preamble Hello. So, it's the Republic of Ireland versus Russia. It's the nation that loves craic against the proverbial crack outfit. To mark this crack meeting, I've brought in a nice special pipe and will be getting off my ti we'll have live minute-by-minute coverage, with kick off at 7.45pm.It's early in qualification for Euro 2012, which means we're still a way from must-win matches, but Russia's manager Dick Advocaat (are there any teams in the world that he hasn't managed?) says this is a mustn't-lose match in view of the fact that they have already been beaten by Slovakia.Russia would surely take a draw; a quietly bullish Ireland, it is nice to relate, probably wouldn't. If they squeeze four points from this and Tuesday's trip to Slovakia - the only other side who can realistically win this group* - they will be very content going into the long winter break as they attempt to qualify for the European Championship for the first time since you-know-when.* Saying which, they've been beaten 3-1 by Armenia tonight. Blimey.Euro 2012Republic of IrelandRussiaRob Smythguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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