Mendieta: Ireland can be pain for Spain

The way the Republic of Ireland play under Giovanni Trapattoni is ideally suited to causing problems for Spain at the European Championship finals.

That’s the considered view of former Spanish international, Gaizka Mendieta, the man whose goal in a penalty shoot-out ended Irish interest in the country’s last appearance at a major tournament, the 2002 World Cup.

Mendieta still regards Spain as the favourites to retain their European crown in Poland and Ukraine but says that Ireland’s physically imposing and defensive set-up under Trapattoni is probably the only way to frustrate the Iberian pass masters, just as similar tactics have proved effective in cramping Barcelona’s style in La Liga this season.