The right and the wrong of Trapattoni
The reports of another match speak of reasons to be cheerful, of hopes for the future and of a hugely entertaining contest.
So which was the victory in a European Championship qualifier and which the defeat in a friendly? Of course, you know the answer, and so does Giovanni Trapattoni — which, when the gist of the papers and the television punditry were made known to him this week, must have caused the veteran to ponder anew the wisdom of the philosopher Rushie who, when asked to sum up his time in Italy, famously declared: “It was like being in a different country.”
Ireland is that different country for Trap and our ways are obviously not his ways.
A 2-3 defeat to Uruguay and a 2-1 win over Macedonia — coming in such close proximity to each other, no two games in his time as Ireland manager can have more pithily expressed the core meaning of one of Trapattoni’s favourite mantras.
“Show is show,” he likes to say, “but result is result.”
Which is true as far as the table goes — and it goes a hell of a long way if you’re a national team manager intent on getting your charges through to the finals of the European Championship. As a result of Ireland’s win against Macedonia, and Russia dropping points in Armenia, Group B has a more attractive look about it now than it did before last Saturday. And even if Russia remain favourites to top the group — not least because four of their last five games are at home — that scoreless draw in Yerevan at the weekend offers evidence, on top of an early home defeat to Slovakia, that they are far from invincible.
Of course, supporters of the country which conceded three at home to the Russians are in no position to gloat, but even the Russian media seem now to be regarding that 2-3 win in Dublin as something of an aberration. Following renewed criticism of manager Dick Advocaat after that draw with Armenia came on the back of two under-whelming friendlies, Moscow’s Sport Express noted that Russia have now not scored in 352 minutes and also pointed out that only twice before have they had fewer points after five matches in qualifying — and on both of those occasions, they failed to reach the finals.
But even if the Motherland does rediscover its mojo, it’s already advantage Ireland for at least the second place in what is now a three-horse race. Again, there might have been those in the press box and in the television studios bemoaning that 1-1 draw in Zilina last year as two points dropped — needless to say, Trapattoni, by contrast, was more inclined to accentuate the mathematical value of a point gained on the road — but, as a result of that draw, a victory at home to Slovakia in September would make all the difference if the race for a play-off place comes down to a straight to head-to-head between ourselves and the Slovaks.
But, soft, we’re getting way ahead of ourselves here. First up for Ireland is that return game in Skopje on June 4 and, even now, I can hear Trapattoni, in his pre-match press conference in the sweltering capital of Macedonia intoning another of his favourite mantras. “Sure, we will try to win,” he will say, “but is important we no lose.”
In short, it’ll be about getting the result, not the show, on the road.
To which end, player availability permitting, we can expect 4-4-2 to be deployed and a preponderance of the usual faces — barring Richard Dunne, of course — to be sent into battle that day. So don’t be surprised if Kevin Foley retains his place at right-back, allowing John O’Shea to partner Sean St Ledger in central defence, with the marathon man, Kevin Kilbane, getting another run out at left-back.
If Kevin Doyle doesn’t make the cut, Shane Long is the obvious and increasingly reliable deputy, while the rest, as they say, pick themselves, with only the partner for Glenn Whelan in central midfield giving Trap pause for thought — and, again, don’t be too surprised if the manager opts to choose Paul Green over Darron Gibson.
If that, indeed, is how it does pan out, it would mean that the two most exciting and in-form Irish players in the Premier League — Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy — would be left cooling their heels at the start, a crazy state of affairs which can only be rationalised in terms of Trapattoni’s practice of picking players to fit the system and not the other way around.
In terms of his immediate claims to an Irish place, Coleman is unfortunate in two respects. Firstly, at Everton, he has blossomed in the wide midfield position where Ireland are already admirably served by Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady. And, secondly, as an attacking full-back with great overlapping potential, he is almost precisely what the manager wouldn’t want to see from a defender.
As for McCarthy, Trapattoni’s idea of playing him off a lone striker against Uruguay, if well-intentioned and refreshing, was a missed opportunity. Had the 20-year-old been played in central midfield, the manager might have seen evidence that there is room in the heart of the Irish team for qualities like imagination and guile as well as those bedrock requirements of work rate and aggression. We already know it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility for an all-round midfielder, especially one of exceptional ability, to protect as well as penetrate, to tackle and cover as well as pass and move. Ask John Giles or Roy Keane.
But ask Trapattoni and, after he’s patiently heard you out on matters of personnel, tactics and formations, he’ll give a smile and point to the table.
And, you know, if results in qualifying keep coming, he’ll be right, even when he’s wrong.
