Opportunity knocked for Coleman, but Trap refused to open door

FOR the Ireland manager, the draw in the hand is always worth more than the win in the bush — until that is you end up with neither.

On Thursday, Giovanni Trapattoni admitted some of his more familiar mantras might be boring us at this stage, but he was right to again emphasise the significance of the little details in the wake of a disappointing conclusion to what was already an underwhelming international year.

Had concentration levels been higher at the back and finishing a tad more clinical up front, Ireland might have been rewarded with the win against Norway which their otherwise dominant performance deserved. But if, like Trapattoni, you live by the result, then you must also be prepared to die by it – which is why he can have few complaints about the flak he’s been taking for getting some critical things wrong on the night.