Breen and Ireland do their homework
The video file has suddenly assumed a major role in tactics and analysis. Breen, who was again in sparkling form for Ireland in the 2-1 win over Georgia, said in Tirana yesterday: "You'd be very arrogant and naive to think you could just turn up not knowing anything about the opposition, and play well against them.
It is very important to do your homework and we have done plenty of that on this trip."
Ireland always worked assiduously off videos under Mick McCarthy and that work was taken to another level during the World Cup. Then McCarthy had the assistance of a London-based video expert. Brian Kerr has the expertise of Brian McCarthy, a Kerry-based member of his National coaching team. Said Breen: "Brian McCarthy does a compilation of the players you are likely to face. For instance, Georgia had a tricky centre forward and there were a couple of times in the game he tried to do things I had seen on the video and I was ready for it. So it definitely helped, it genuinely did.
"In the Premiership you get to know all the players, but when you come away on trips like this you don't really know the players. You have heard of some of them but you don't know what they are really like.
"Brian sent us tapes of the Scotland game. It reminded us of what we did well and what we didn't do so well and learn from the experience. Breen's consistently good form for Ireland over the past six years belies his experiences at club level this season with West Ham. Despite a high-profile move at the beginning of the season he has been unable to win a place in Glen Roeder's side.
You can be sure that is a source of anger for him but he was not prepared to concede as much: "I am not thinking about West Ham when I am with Ireland I am focused totally on Ireland, and I deal with West Ham when I am at West Ham."
It is popular among a Certain sections of the press and, it must be admitted, some Irish supporters are quick to point out the flaws in Breen's game. But those opinions are inevitably coloured by his inability to impress at West Ham and not at international level.
Breen is an outstanding international centre-back, the facts prove that. However, at club football his slight frame is a disadvantage when he runs up against powerful strikers like Emile Heskey, Van Nistelrooy, Shearer and co in the hurly-burly of the English game.
He saved Ireland against Georgia with a tackle in the 90th minute when it seemed certain that substitute Didava was about to score. Breen shadowed his run and then nicked the ball away deep inside his own penalty area with a masterful challenge. Softly-spoken and reasoned in debate he showed his modesty when it was suggested that his tackle was exceptional: "I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time" was all he would say.
He was more forthcoming when reviewing the importance of the win: "I took a lot of satisfaction out of the win, especially as after they equalised we had to weather the storm. We were aware the clock was running and it was vital we got that goal." He was typically honest in is review of the European Championship campaign: "The results have been really strange in this group. We look back at the way we were chasing the win against Switzerland and maybe a 1-1 draw would have been alright (Ireland lost 1-2 in Dublin to a late goal).
"It is a topsy-turvy group but we want to get six points out of this trip and stamp our authority on it now."
He responded to last Saturday's shock here in Tirana when Albania whipped Russia 3-1 and said: "It was great to hear Russia had dropped points. If we win here then the group is wide open teams won't relish going to Georgia."
He held his hand up and said the players had to take responsibility for the losses to Russia and Switzerland that threatened their qualification for next year's finals in Portugal: "We started poorly and it is up to us to get back in it, and we have an opportunity to do that now and we must consolidate."
He stressed the team were not demoralised by their two defeats: "There is always a belief in the squad. We never ever thought we were out of it even though we had the two poor results to begin with. We believed we could win every game from then on and we still do.
"We know our strengths and it is important for us to get back on track and get back to being the team we were at the World Cup we let ourselves down in the first two games." "Brian says the shirts are there, and it's up to us to take them. He has got his own decisions to make and I just try to play to the best of my ability when I am training with him and hopefully I catch his eye.
If he picks me he picks me, if not I just keep working hard to try and get back in the team.
"I have been in the squad for six years now and there is a strength in depth there which wasn't there before. In the past There were times when if certain players were missing it was a huge blow, but now there are players waiting in the wings to come in and that is testament to both Mick McCarthy and Brian Kerr and the work they have done behind the scenes.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
