Ireland ready for crucial Cypriot clash…just about.

September 4, 2009

The Republic of Ireland team have had put the final touches on preparation for their crucial World Cup Qualifier against Cyprus in Nicosia tomorrow evening.

There was only one small hick-up and an un-wanted reminder of the bad old days of how the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) can still find it hard to organise the most basic of travel plans for the national squad.

The FAI has long been portrayed as a comical organisation with a seemingly amateur approach to all things that involve any sort of organisation.

Since the Trappatoni era however, things seemed to have stepped up a level to and far more harmonious and professional set up has become the norm.

The “mix-up” yesterday involved the chartered flight that was booked to bring the squad, backroom staff and FAI officials to Nicosia.

Apparently they forgot to add up the numbers of those due to board the plane and as such, 7 players were forced to sit in economy class with the smaller seats and less leg room, for the five hour journey, while some of the back room staff lived it up in First class.

When the mix up was discovered however, assistant coach Liam Brady and goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly, swiftly offered up their seats to two of the players. Both of them, as ex-internationals, were well aware of the poor treatment the players have had to suffer.

Of the seven players, Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle, Aiden McGeady, Liam Miller, Andy Keogh, Paul McShane, and Shane Long, both Doyle and McShane are coming back from injuries so it made the situation all the more farcical.

However, they have arrived and the only injury problem seems to involve Sean St.Ledger, who, if fit; will take the other centre half spot along side Richard Dunne.

Trapattoni now appears to be waiting only on him before officially announcing the starting XI. The word coming from the camp is that they will be accompanied by, as expected, Shay Given in goal. John O Shea and Kevin Kilbane in the full back positions.

Stephen Hunt appears to have gotten the nod on the right wing ahead of Aiden McGeady and Damien Duff on the left. Keith Andrews looks to have cemented one of the midfield berths but it is still unsure if he will be accompanied by Glen Whelan or Darron Gibson.

The familiar front two of Kevin Doyle and captain Robbie Keane will be the ones trying to get the goals.

As Irish teams go, it’s ok. There should, however, be enough quality throughout to get a result on the night.

Personally I’d prefer to see Caleb Folan given the start up front and give the Cypriot defence a hard time. Kevin Doyle is not 100% fit and with the added pressure of having to get a result, it might just seem a step too far.

If things aren’t going too well with 20 minutes to go, perhaps Doyle would be the best option to throw on and go for the win.

Whatever team is out on the pitch, however, the result will be the most important. There is not one of the players in the squad that isn’t aware of the result the last time they travelled there. A 5-2 win for the Cypriots would be very unlikely again this time round.

A win for Ireland however sets them up nicely for the final two qualifiers in Dublin. Their destiny is very much in their own hands now, which is something an Irish team has not had the luxury of for a long time.

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