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.

“We see Spain play the same way as Barcelona does and there are so many Barcelona players in the national team,” says Mendieta. “Inter did it against Barcelona in the Champions League in 2010 in that Italian way and it’s how England did it as well against Spain. What happened against Switzerland is not as clear but in the same way they defended and tried to get chances, on the counter-attack or from a corner kick or free kick. As Spain feel so comfortable with the ball it is very difficult for the other teams to take the ball off them. So that is probably one of the few ways to beat Spain.”

And therefore suits Ireland under Trapattoni?

“It does because what I have seen of Ireland and from Trapattoni, he is very identified with Italian football. And the way that Ireland has been playing, with two blocks of four and sometimes five with one striker being quick on the counter-attack, that is probably the way that Ireland could do something against Spain.”

Could even beat Spain?

“Could beat Spain, yes.”

Mendieta is aware of the criticism of Trapattoni’s approach, not least because as a player under Claudio Ranieri at Valencia, he too had to adapt to a rigid managerial approach.

“I understand how supporters might feel about it. But I can tell you that if Ireland achieve something big in this tournament nobody is going to think about the way they’ve played. I had Ranieri at Valencia and he was kind of similar. In the beginning he tried to make us play like an Italian team and the supporters didn’t like that. Then we (qualified to) play in the Champions League and won cups.

“At first, I felt similarly to how supporters would feel. As a footballer you want to play nicely. Initially, very similar to Ireland, we were used to playing in a certain way and then someone comes and tell you you have to play this way — and it’s difficult. But it was worth it. The same with Ireland. It’s giving you results and seems to be working so far. So stick to it. Why not?”

While Mendieta gives encouragement to Ireland with one hand, he promptly takes it away with the other by hailing Spain’s current rude health — even without injured David Villa and out-of-sorts Fernando Torres.

“If Spain didn’t make it out of the group, it would be a disaster,” he says.

“In their last game (a 5-0 romp) against Venezuela, we saw the best Spanish performance in a long time. If we think of the importance of Villa and Torres, you would think there would be a big worry about who is going to fill that gap but at the moment in Spanish football, we are sorted. We have Soldado, Llorente, Silva, Mata, Muniain.

“And even if we didn’t have any proper striker — which we have, luckily — Spain have already played without strikers. Barcelona have done this with so many games with Fabregas and Silva, who’s gone now to Manchester City, these playmakers. Spain could play in a different way. Hopefully Torres will be back at his best because of the importance he has for the national team, not just on the pitch but off it. Villa without doubt should make it for a comeback.”

The biggest challenge to Spain’s title will come, according to Mendieta, from Holland, Germany and, possibly, Italy, in that order. But not from England.

“I can’t see it happening with England,” he says. “Not just because they are in transition, but because they are similar to Spain a few years ago with a lot of individuals, talented players — but they are not a team.”