Time for optimism?
Can Ireland build on their strong position in Group 8 with a win in Cyprus? The next week of international football will have a huge bearing on whether thousands of Irish supporters will defy the knowledge of birds and flock in the opposite direction to the South African winter to spend June singing, drinking and vuvuzela-ing on the streets of Jo-burg or Cape Town. On Saturday night Ireland return to the scene of their most shocking crime to date. Forget the draw against Liechtenstein or that a last minute goal was needed to beat San Marino, Irelands 5-2 humbling in Cyprus was a real low. On Saturday night however, we have the chance to make amends, and to clear another important hurdle in our quest to join the party at next summer’s World cup at the same time.
Since that nightmare in Nicosia Ireland have made huge strides. Under Trappatoni they look like a far sturdier unit than the outfit that combusted under Stan. Granted the campaign has been more steady than spectacular but that steadiness and organisation has left us in 2nd place behind Italy and unbeaten in group 8. Ireland should line up very similarly to the team that started against Australia recently. Trapp will probably opt for Keith Andrew instead of Darron Gibson and may go for the inform Hunt instead of McGeady. One thing is for sure that with Given in nets (Paddy Kenny played in Nicosia last time and had a night to forget!) and with Trapps defensive set up, Ireland will be far more difficult to break down this time round.
Sean St Ledger is a doubt, which would be a real shame as I’ve really liked him in the team so far. Since Paul Mc Grath I can’t think of any Irish centre half who can play football as well as defend and I think the Dunne/St Ledger partnership could be a very successful one. At the other end of the pitch things are looking good aswell. McGeady, Hunt, and Keane have all started well for their clubs this season. Duff has got plenty of games under his belt and Doyle, although just returning from injury played 90 mins for Wolves last weekend. I also hope to see Trapp unleash the joker in the pack, Caleb Folan, at some stage. I took great pleasure in watching Cannavaro and Zambrotta, two of the best technical defenders in the game get bamboozled by Folans aerial ability and eagerness to drive toward goal.
Interestingly while Ireland plays Cyprus, Italy will have a tricky away tie to Georgia and then follow that up by hosting Bulgaria next Wednesday. I wouldn’t bet on the Italians picking up maximum points from both those games so the group table will really have taken shape by this day next week. With three games to play it could be quite simple; if Ireland take the maximum 9 points we finish top of the group. It’s not that much to ask, we CAN beat Cyprus away, this is the same Cyprus whose last competitive game was a 6-1 friendly defeat to Albania, we CAN beat Italy at home, this Italy are a shadow of their former great teams and are crumbling as a superpower of world football. Finally we CAN beat Montenegro at home, because they’re shite.
Unfortunately, over the years I’ve learned from many disappointments that Ireland never take the easy route and there’s always a cavernous sized bump in the road in every qualifying campaign. Let’s hope for once we can avoid further heartbreak, I for one am confident that we will qualify, starting with a 2-0 victory against Cyprus this Saturdays. What do you think…?
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posted by Shane @ 3:50 PM
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