Trap: It’s up to the players now

It’s the eve of match day and there’s a sense from Giovanni Trapattoni that there’s not a lot more he can do now to prepare his players for one of the biggest games of their lives.

After overseeing a high-tempo training session in Gdynia yesterday, followed by an appearance in front of the TV cameras and the international media, he was about to step into a car to leave the training ground when he was reminded that he had an appointment with a group of the regular Irish reporters, some of whom he has come to know by name over the last four years.

In this more intimate gathering, Trapattoni sat on a sofa and leaned forward to make his points in a quiet but firm voice. Here, there was none of the showy animation which can make his media work alternately baffling and bewitching. This was the 73-year-old in more reflective mood, his comments conveying the strong impression that it was over to the players now. More than once, he spoke about having congratulated them for all they’ve done to get this far. Now, he’s asking them for one final big push.