No suprises from Trapattoni’s squad selection.

August 24, 2009

Giovanni Trappatoni announced on Friday that there would be no changes to the Irish squad ahead of the crucial qualifier against Cyprus on September 5th.

The Irish team has been remarkably lucky in the last year or so with injuries not having as much an affect throughout the course of this campaign. In fact, where most of the bigger nations in Europe like Spain and Portugal have been without the services of some of their bigger name stars due to injuries, Ireland fans have a very different reason to groan at when recent national selections have been announced, and this one was no different.

The same squad would do for the game against the Cypriots, which wouldn’t normally be seen as a major threat in the group. Unfortunately however, Ireland have had some strange games and results in their last few visits to the Mediterranean island. A barely deserved 1-0 win under the management of Brian Kerr in 2005 when only the heroics of goalkeeper Shay Given kept our hopes alive.

Probably the lowest point in the Republic of Ireland’s chequered history came when the team were torn to shreds on a score line of 5-2 to the Cypriots during the farcical helm of Steve “The Gaffer” Staunton . It was well and truly the worst game in living history for most Irish fans.

This time around there is a vast improvement in the Irish team, not least at management level. A much more professional aura surrounds the team and its’ preparations these days.

Which is why it still amazes me that so many are looking to the game against Italy in Dublin on October 10. So many seem to think that because the Italians are at a bit of a low ebb recently, that it will be a mere formality in Croke Park.

And although it has to be said that we do indeed probably have our best chance of beating Italy since that famous victory in Giants Stadium, New York in 1994, people seem to be forgetting one thing….Cyprus.

We simply cannot afford to think any further ahead than that game in Nicosia in just under two weeks time. Indeed, anything less than a win against Cyprus and a result against the Italians will be quite a hollow one. Ignoring the threat of Cyprus has been and could be a massive mistake.

These two games will more than likely make or break the Irish chances of qualifying. Six points from six is a very realistic goal at the moment, and something we should be aiming for. Four points would be acceptable, and anything less, and it’ll be another case of holding on until the end and hoping other results go our away in order to get involved in the lottery of the play-offs. We genuinely have a chance to top our group and head to South Africa with our heads held high and full of confidence.

I really hope the decision/stubbornness not to be pulling out all the stops to bring Stephen Ireland back and recall Andy Reid will not come back and haunt the management team.

Whereas the inclusion of Mr Ireland is a somewhat tricky situation, Andy Reid’s case seems a lot more straightforward. He publicly came out this weekend in a national newspaper and put forward a very good case for his return. Although he said he wouldn’t beg, he definitely said all the right things, and it appears, is doing all the right things too. A strict fitness regime has seen him lose the excess pounds that he has been carrying for the past few years.

He even said went as far as stating in willingness to participate in a “B” international. Which, as any genuine fan knows, is the lowest form of international competitiveness. They are about as meaningful as saying “No offence, but…” before launching into a tirade of personal abuse to a best friend.

It is obvious he loves playing for Ireland and wants to represent his country again, and not many players come out and state that publicly anymore. As the Stephen Ireland affair seems to be an endless snowball of rumours and alleged quotes, here is a black and white case of someone wanting to wear green.

The only other exception to the squad that Mr Trapattoni has no control over, would be that of Andy’s namesake, Stephen Reid. He had suffered more than anyone with injuries over the past 2 years and he would be a huge boost to the midfield. As he makes yet another slow recovery, we can only hope he is fit enough to face the Italians in Dublin next month.

Which brings me back to my original point. In a campaign where European teams have struggled with mounting injuries and loss of form, Ireland are somehow coasting along with what can be described as an average team at best.

To have the luxury of ignoring arguably the best midfielder currently in the Premiership in a team that are serious contenders for the top 3 places. While another who has found his best form of 5 years ago and is on the up with a Sunderland team that seem reborn under new management seems somewhat remarkable and a definite first for an Irish coach.

So much is resting on the next two months, not just the dreams of the players to perform on the highest level and at the biggest show in world sport. The hopes of the fans of a depressed Irish nation would be given such a morale boosting lift, that it would almost make the calamitous Irish government look favourable again. Well, I shouldn’t get too far ahead of myself, it’s only football at the end of the day, not miracle working. It is however, as the old saying goes…”a funny old game”.

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.