Trap challenges players to raise their game

Giovanni Trapattoni has challenged his Republic of Ireland players to raise their game another notch if they are to edge past France and into next summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

The Republic have already defied the odds to finish second in Group 8 after giving reigning champions Italy a major scare.

However, their 70-year-old manager has warned his team they will need to shift into another gear if they are to complete the job by springing a shock in the play-offs.

Trapattoni said: “We need the same spirit, we need the same performance, we need the attitude we have had in the games throughout qualification – but we have to add some more.

“Every player must in these 180 minutes add something more to his performance.

“We must avoid nervousness. These are important games and, in important games, in my experience, some players can lose their cool.

“They have to keep their heads and play as we have done until now and, with this mentality, we can play on an equal footing with France.

“For us, these games are the final of the World Cup, qualification or not.”

Trapattoni will finalise his team selection this evening but has only one decision still to make, and that is on the right side of midfield.

Damien Duff will line up on the left ahead of the same defence and behind the same front line that started against the Italians, while either Celtic’s Aiden McGeady or Stoke’s Liam Lawrence will provide the width on the right.

Trapattoni is desperate to take a positive result to the Stade de France on Wednesday and, to that end, the fact France goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda both played in Sunday’s remarkable 5-5 Ligue 1 draw between Lyon and Marseille was not lost on him.

He said: “Can I joke? I hope they do the same again – but I’m sure it won’t be so.”

Embattled France boss Raymond Domenech was in defiant mood as he arrived in Dublin tonight.

Domenech, sitting alongside skipper Thierry Henry, was giving little away as he assessed tomorrow night’s first leg play-off clash at Croke Park.

He and his players landed on Irish soil with heavy rain providing as hostile a welcome as they can expect from an expectant home crowd when battle commences.

But asked for his reaction to comments from the Republic camp this week - defender Richard Dunne was less than complimentary in his assessment of the France coach – his reply was dismissive.

Domenech said: “That’s not of my concern. I have to prepare the team for the match tomorrow.

“In fact, I have long since stopped listening to the press as otherwise I probably would have killed myself.

“I never speak about the opponents, I have enough problems with the French team.

“But I respect the Ireland team and I know they are a solid team.”

France left their base at Clairefontaine with a lingering doubt over Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan, who has an adductor muscle problem.

However, Domenech, who is already without Franck Ribery, was neither ruling the 26-year-old in or out.

He said: “He is recovering from his injury.”

Asked further if he fears Toulalan could miss both legs, he added: “No. I have other worries.

“There are 24 players and we must prepare for both matches. It is the team as a whole that matters.”