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Marco hoping three will be magic number
All the indications are that Ireland will line out with an extra midfielder in a bid to stifle German creativity in the World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night.
By Liam Mackey
Giovanni Trapattoni has briefly toyed with formation before but yesterday Marco Tardelli effectively confirmed that Ireland will adopt a 4-3-3 formation against the group favourites, the expectation being that James McCarthy, Keith Andrews and Keith Fahey will be the men charged with putting it into effect. “I think we need to change something against Germany because the Germans are a very strong team and play 4-3-3,” said the assistant manager yesterday.
“So maybe it’s possible for us to play 4-3-3. I don’t know who the third midfielder will be but Fahey has good experience and for (David) Meyler it is very early because it’s a very tough match and we need experienced players.
“Why the change? Because we have many injuries and against Germany we play 4-3-3 as they have a big player behind the two strikers, (Mesut) Ozil.
“Maybe we need a midfielder who can control and keep them in check. So we put three midfielders on the pitch and one midfielder is for Ozil.”
All of which sounds fine on paper, the Irish meeting with fire with fire in a 4-3-3 battle. Except that experience shows that Ireland nearly always struggle to get on the ball against top-class opposition, surrendering so much possession that they end up effectively playing 4-5-1 and at risk of leaving the lone striker hopelessly isolated. So what can Ireland do to ensure Robbie Keane isn’t left high and dry on Friday?
“We need to run everybody,” said Tardelli. “And it’s very important for us to stay close. If we leave too much space it’s not good. If the team stay close, it’s easier to secure the action and the counter attack to try and score a goal.”
Tardelli reckons there was a template of sorts in the high-tempo pressing game which Ireland employed from the kick-off in the redemptive (but still losing) performance against Italy at the European Championship finals this summer “Yes, I think so,” said Tardelli. “We need to press Germany to recover the ball. It is important for us but we need to choose the right moment because if we choose the wrong time, then they can do damage to us. We need to wait to make the right choice.”
Asked if he would be happy with a point, the Italian said: “We will try to win, it’s normal for us. If we can win against Germany, it will be important for the team and for the country.
“But a draw? I don’t know. It is better to wait.
“The Germans are a strong team, they are very quick and they play very well with their wingers because they cut in with their strikers.
“We know that Germany is a very good team and we have many problems, but we need to believe it’s possible to play against all teams.”
Tardelli said that a decision has still to made on who will be Aiden McGeady’s counterpart on the opposite flank for Ireland, with Simon Cox and Jon Walters the main candidates.
Nottingham Forest’s Cox filled the role in training yesterday while the right-back slot — vacant because John O’Shea will line-out at centre-half – was occupied by Stephen Kelly.
Keiren Westwood opted to work in the gym rather than on the training pitch but Tardelli insisted that an unspecified “little problem” the ‘keeper had was of no concern.
“Maybe he is a little tired and wants a rest,” said the Italian.
Westwood himself later confirmed: “There is no problem and I will be able to play on Friday night. I took a rest from training today and worked in the gym. This was arranged with the manager.”
Tardelli also said that the number one’s lack of game time at Sunderland was not a worry.
“Many (Irish) players don’t play in the Premier League. I started work here in 2008 and it’s the same problem always. Westwood, when he has played with the national team, has always played very well. (Smiling) Maybe it is better to stay on the bench at his club and to play for us.”
Ireland’s long-haul travellers, Robbie Keane and Aiden McGeady have now linked up with the squad and both took a full part in training yesterday.