Shay Given is unconcerned by Germany’s goal-glut against Saudi Arabia and hopes Ireland’s Group E opponents will be over-confident after Saturday’s result.
Germany put eight past the lacklustre Saudis but the Republic of Ireland stopper, who enjoyed an excellent season at Newcastle, believes Ireland can blunt the German attack.
"I haven't seen the goals at all so I cannot really comment on who scored, or how the Saudis defended," Given explained, "but maybe they'll be a little bit over-confident after that game.
"We are confident going into the game and they obviously are going to be confident because they just won 8-0, so this is going to be an extremely tough game, probably the toughest in the group.
"We've got to get something from the game because if we don't it's going to be very difficult leaving it to the last game."
Given is nursing a hip injury but hopes to be fit to face the Germans.
He explained: "I came for a corner in the second half and I haven't actually seen the replay, but some of the lads told me that I hit Steve Staunton or one of their players when I was up in the air and I got a bang on my hip.
"It is still quite sore and I'm hoping that it will settle down over the next couple of days."
Given, one of Ireland's top performers on Saturday, has said he was thrilled to play in his first World Cup finals.
"It was a very special moment," he said. "It was one I dreamed of when I was growing up as a kid, but I never thought it would happen.
"As a supporter, I remember watching the 1994 World Cup and they were great times, but to actually play in the finals, on the biggest stage in the world, was something really special."