Walking into a Trap

Managers are crucial at this level, Trapattoni could be the difference

Last updated: 13th November 2009  

Walking into a Trap

Trapattoni: Ireland's big weapon

It's a dangerous time for people to start mentioning Robbie Keane's record of never losing in the 33 games that he has scored. I remember people talking about Ian Rush's record for us at Liverpool, they made a big thing about how we never lost when he scored and then we lost the League Cup final!

Ronnie Whelan
Quotes of the week

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Eight years. Eight long years Republic of Ireland have had to wait since their last taste of major tournament football, but Ronnie Whelan believes that wait is almost over.

Former World and European champions France stand in Ireland's way when Croke Park plays host to the first qualifying leg on Saturday, a game that sees the Republic head in as 5/2 underdogs to progress to South Africa.

Whelan admits the size of the task is huge, but international football is a more tactical battle than any other, and the former Liverpool man insists Ireland have one massive advantage: Giovanni Trapattoni.

Below Whelan breaks the tie down, before racing across to Croke Park to watch the drama unfold from the Sky Sports studio...

The managers

"France remind me a little of what England have been in recent years, plenty of good individuals but not really a great team.

"It's taken for Fabio Capello to arrive for England to begin to look like a strong team. I don't think Raymond Domenech is doing that for France, he's not getting the right blend and let's hope that continues for another two games!

"It counts for a lot that we definitely have the better manager. Giovanni Trapattoni has been very shrewd during the entire qualifying campaign, we were so close to beating Italy.

"Make no mistake, we'll play with two sitting midfielders in Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews, we'll try to get the wingers involved, and we'll play a lot of long balls down the sides of the centre backs. We don't need any new plan for Saturday.

"He sets up his team so that we never over-commit in attack, and the one time we did so we conceded late on against Italy. That'll be good for Trapattoni because now he can say 'right, you didn't listen to me and look where it got you, so now you do it my way'.

"His management record is terrific and Ireland have a major advantage in the managerial battle."

Dangerous omens

"Robbie Keane is obviously vitally important with his goals, after all, they hardly fly in from all angles of the team.

"But it's a dangerous time for people to start mentioning this record he has of never losing in the 33 games that he has scored. I remember people talking about Ian Rush's record for us at Liverpool, they made a big thing about how we never lost when he scored and then we lost the League Cup final!

"This is not the time to be talking Keano's record!

"In fact, it's largely pointless discussing individuals at all because Ireland are all about the team performance. You can speculate that Duffer might do something, or so-and-so will have to step up, but right now our team is not about great skill, it's about a collective effort to take us to the World Cup."

Setting your own Trap

"Having said that, something has definitely happened along the line with Steven Reid. The manager clearly doesn't feel he does what he needs him to do, but you cannot deny Reid is better than a lot of players in the squad.

"The manager doesn't seem to think he would add to his squad, and there's a huge possibility that will come back to haunt Trapattoni if we don't qualify.

"Stephen Ireland, Andy Reid and Steven Reid would all add quality, but the manager lives and dies by his decisions so we'll wait to see the outcome.

"Undoubtedly these names will get brought up if Ireland don't qualify though.

"Either way I don't think Trapattoni should be considered a failure if we don't qualify. If you looked at the group at the start, you probably expected us to finish behind Italy and Bulgaria.

"We were in a bit of a mess, we didn't expect to be in these play-offs, so I don't think it'd be a failure if the journey ends here.

"He's got a contract until 2012 anyway so he has the chance to keep building, although hopefully he can do that building work with a squad that has World Cup experience!"

Prediction

"Having watched Ireland throughout every game of the group stage, I truly do believe they can turn France over during these two qualifying games.

"The system Trapattoni has put in place makes it very difficult for teams to play against us; it's not the greatest squad we've ever had but whilst the players believe in it and are getting results he is making us a tricky proposition for any side.

"I'll be at Croke Park for this one and I'd love to see us come away with a goal to protect in France. We're very capable of holding out for 0-0 over there, it wouldn't be a disaster to draw 0-0 on Saturday but I'd love to take a one-goal lead.

"When you talk about France, you instantly remember the glory days of Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marcel Desailly. They're not the same team nowadays, they've still got big players like Thierry Henry, Karim Benzema and Nicolas Anelka but Franck Ribery is missing [thank the lord].

"They're not a great team, they only just beat the Faroe Islands who are one of the lowest ranked sides in Europe, and I wasn't too disheartened when the draw was made because I think we're capable of beating them."

Comments (9)

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Mohamed Khalil (Leeds United fan) says...

Ireland will hopefully beat the French 2-0 in the first leg and then try to concentrate on defending in the second leg. But they can't spend the whole time defending or the french will eventually break down the Irish Defence. I say 1-1 in the second leg. C'mon IRELAND!

Posted 15:42 13th November 2009

Conor Wall says...

Two words! Shay Given!

Posted 15:35 13th November 2009

Neil Oleary (Liverpool fan) says...

c'mon ireland!!

Posted 14:43 13th November 2009

A.n Other says...

Despite what Ronnie says about the French, i believe that they are the better team in each department. Ireland will need to work incredibly hard to overcome this team. France have got pure quality among the individuals in there team, as as Herny has proved before France do not need to be firing on all cylinders to beat Ireland. Anybody care to remember Henry's goal the last time we met them in the playoff's, ten seconds of pure class and we were out. I still hope that we win, but it will be a very uphill battle to overcome a team with players like Benzema, Toulalan, Henry , Abidal and Evra.

Posted 14:16 13th November 2009

Bazkamp Sheamus (Aston Villa fan) says...

Ireland to edge out France 1-0 at Croke Park, with us drawing 1-1 at the Stade de France on Wednesday! This is the Republic's time again, with Keane, Duff, Dunne and McGeady we have 4 of the best players in the world with that quartet. This is Giovanni's swansong before retiring while Ireland get to the World Cup semi finals minimum to beat Jack Charlton's previous best regime OLE OLE OLE

Posted 14:12 13th November 2009

Emmanuel Boakye (Arsenal fan) says...

I hope you don't eat your own words.

Posted 14:04 13th November 2009

Jon K (Charlton Athletic fan) says...

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE show the Second Leg game on wednesday!!!!!!!

Posted 12:08 13th November 2009

Matt H (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan) says...

I am hoping Ireland do well and win this game, but the comments made by Ronnie Whelan suggest that France are not going to be favourites. Does he honestly think France aren't going to be up for this? It's the world cup at stake. As bad as they have been playing you still have to put Ireland as underdogs in both ties. In every position France are stronger and in big games the big players usually step up to the plate. I actually think the first game has a draw written all over it but i can't see Ireland picking up even a draw in France. That said the underdog stance usually brings out the best in ireland so maybe the will surprise us all.....

Posted 11:24 13th November 2009

Ronan O'connor (Barcelona fan) says...

Ronnie Whelan is a legend. I have to say that I do feel (reasonably) optimistic that we can win this playoff. All the sounds coming from the Irish camp are positive ones and our tactics, although not easy on the eye, have been effective so far and each player knows his job. It's a pity Stephen Ireland didn't come back, but in saying that we probably wouldn't be where we are now if he did play in the previous games. Ronnie's right, it is all about the team and, strangely, a creative player in the middle of the park would probably hinder us at the moment. Sounds wrong saying that but it's probably true.... Anyway, come on Ireland!

Posted 11:10 13th November 2009
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