Monday, November 09, 2009
GIOVANNI Trapattoni’s prayers appear to have been answered with his players getting a clean bill of health following the weekend’s action in the Premier League, Championship and SPL.
But by far the biggest boost ahead of the first leg of Ireland’s World Cup play-off against France next Saturday was the news that Damien Duff returned to play a full 90 minutes in Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Wigan yesterday meaning that, as he had predicted himself earlier in the week, the winger will now be able to join up with the rest of the Irish squad when they begin their build-up to the big match in Malahide tomorrow.
By contrast, there was a further injury blow for France with Abou Diaby set to be unavailable for the games in both Dublin and France after Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed that the midfielder will be sidelined for up to three weeks with a calf injury. Diaby was replaced after 20 minutes in Arsenal’s 4-1 win at Wolves on Saturday.
Wenger has also said that he believes Giovanni Trapattoni’s illustrious record cannot be underestimated in any assessment of the play-off between Ireland and his native France.
"I believe in a contest like this, experience will play its part," Wenger said. "I have a big respect for Trapattoni, not only for what he has achieved but for his passion. When you look at this guy he is still ready to fight every day and you must respect that."
England boss Fabio Capello has wished his compatriot well in the play-off game but thinks that Trap’s Ireland have it all to do against what he believes is an improving French side.
Said the Italian: "Giovanni is a great friend of mine and so is his assistant, Marco Tardelli, so I will be very happy if they are with us in South Africa with the Ireland squad. It will not be easy though against France. They were struggling earlier in the competition but in their last two games they have played well."
Tardelli himself thinks Trapattoni can be Ireland’s Napoleon against the French.
"When I am asked if Giovanni Trapattoni is a lucky manager I always say to remember what Napoleon said," the Ireland assistant manager remarked. "Napoleon claimed that his generals were lucky and clever and good, and Giovanni can be like that for Ireland now. We need to have him because he is a lucky general and a good one."
Meanwhile, former Ireland manager Brian Kerr has criticised the decision to overlook Andy Reid’s claims to a place in the Irish squad. Speaking on Today FM, Kerr said: "Whoever is helping to make the decision in continually ignoring Andy Reid, I think they’re right out of order, and I think it’s fairly ridiculous. I don’t believe that it’s the system that means he’s excluded. If you look at some of the other players who played in the match against South Africa in Limerick, I would have to say on current form, they wouldn’t lace Andy’s boots.
"Andy is a fairly adaptable fellow, if you remember back a few years ago. For example I don’t see how he can’t be included as a wide player, given the amount of wide players we have used in the 4-4-2. I just can’t understand how Andy Reid is not good enough to be in a squad of 22. I think it’s unfair."
Kerr, whose Faroe Islands side were twice beaten by France in their qualifying campaign, thinks Ireland have a "fair chance" in the play-off.
"France are certainly a smashing attacking team," he said, "but they are liable to make mistakes in the centre back positions and are so offensive in their outlook that they give you attacking opportunities which could be exploited by the likes of Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane.
"But, if our concentration isn’t absolutely 100% and the organisation and defensive discipline isn’t right, they will exploit it. There will be a lot of pressure, as they will have a lot of the ball. But there will be opportunities from set pieces, so I think there is some hope there, but I think it will be very difficult."
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