Trapattoni says no to gung-ho

Italian happy to continue with defensive tactics

Last updated: 2nd September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Trapattoni says no to gung-ho

Trapattoni: Cautious

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Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is refusing to throw caution to the wind against Armenia on Friday.

The Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign gets under way when Trapattoni's side turn out at the Yerevan Republican Stadium on Friday evening.

The Republic know a win on foreign soil would send them into Tuesday night's clash with Group B minnows Andorra in Dublin with an excellent chance to open their account with maximum points.

But the Italian tactician is set to adopt the same approach as he did during their unbeaten run during their World Cup qualifying group before falling to France in the play-offs.

Asked if he would settle for a 1-0 victory on Friday, Trapattoni said: "Sure. Immediately.

"We have to play as we have played in games in the past. It is important that we recognise when we can play and when we cannot. The most important thing is the result."

Target

Trapattoni's pragmatism may infuriate his critics, but he can point to the positive results which took his team to within a hair's breadth of the World Cup finals.

It is a theme he revisits regularly whenever he is asked if Ireland could play a more expansive game.

He said: "Brazil and Argentina played beautiful football at the World Cup. They went home."

At 71, ambition still burns bright for Trapattoni as he attempts to guide the Republic to the finals of a major tournament for the first time since 2002.

Their current group is a tough one, with Russia, Slovakia and Macedonia their most likely challengers.

Asked if they could go one better than they did in the last campaign, which saw them finish second behind reigning world champions Italy, Trapattoni replied: "I have been a manager for 30 years and I have never said 'I am sure'.

"But in my heart, I feel maybe we can win it. But it is not an easy group - Slovakia, Russia, Ireland."