Armenia coach Vardan Minasyan has installed Ireland as one of the favourites to emerge from Euro 2012 qualifying Group B. However, the 36-year-old is determined to do everything within his powers to dent their challenge as they launch their campaign in Yerevan tomorrow. Minasyan freely admits his own side are currently at the development stage with several of the players in his likely starting eleven coming from the Under-21 squad which defeated Ireland home and away during the current qualification tournament at that level. But, while he expects Russia and Ireland to be the big guns in the group, he is confident Armenia will play their part. He said: “This is a strong group, but the favourites are Russia and Ireland. Slovakia and Macedonia are also strong teams, but I think Russia and Ireland will finish above them. But every team goes out onto the pitch to win. Of course, we understand that Ireland are a strong team, but we will try to stop them. I have seen the last two matches and they are very strong, very aggressive. They are a very good team and I saw that especially in the second half against Argentina. But every team has its strengths and weaknesses and we will try to win. A win would give us a lot of confidence. But of course, a draw would be a good result too.” It is another experience for Minasyan too as he pits his wits against 71-year Giovanni Trapattoni, a veteran manager with a hugely impressive CV. The Armenia boss said with a smile: “It will be interesting. He [Trapattoni] is a very famous coach and a very strong coach – he showed that in the games against France. It will be interesting for me. I am a young coach and I have a long way to go.”