It’s not black and white for Irish team

AS a race, we tend to deal in extremes. We are either up in the clouds or down in the dumps. A bit like Cian O’Connor and the unfortunate Waterford Crystal.

One minute an Olympic gold medal and, in the blink of an eye, a battle for credibility. Was it ever otherwise?

Assessments of the merits of the Irish team followed a similar pattern after the latest World Cup flurry. There were many who lionised the team after drawing with France in Paris. Some berated them for not scoring a hatful of goals against the Faroe Islands.

Ireland were very good against France, calm and secure in their football, playing a modern, constructive game. They were also very good against the Faroes but our best players failed to take the scoring chances that were created.

Ireland continued over two games to progress under Brian Kerr. There is real hope, as a result, that they will qualify for the finals in Germany in 2006.

Meantime, let's leave them continue their work without the needless hype.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. It is necessary to go back to the eve of the game against the Faroes when Roy Keane accompanied Kerr to the pre-match interview session.

This was reported in some areas as a surprise appearance by Keane. As if he wanted to confront the media representatives and deliver some enduring truth about football and Ireland.

It was no such thing.

There is a new administration at the FAI governing media matters. The officer in charge, Pat Costello, is a well-meaning, co-operative and enthusiastic press officer, even if the role is a temporary one.

He was appointed to the FAI as Corporate Affairs Manager and assumed the press portfolio while the FAI officer board consider the appointment of a full-time press officer. Pat has met many times with the officers of the Soccer Writers' Association to tease out an arrangement acceptable to them and to Brian Kerr and his players regarding interview sessions.

The agreement involves drawing up a rota of players who will attend the daily media sessions around international matches. It was Keane's turn to fulfil this function on the eve of the match against Faroes.

So why the surprise?

What was surprising was one of the questions posed by a reporter. He asked Keane: "Is this the best Irish team you have ever played with?"

Whoa, Trigger!

I thought, where is this leading? Is the guy being disingenuous? Is he trying to provoke controversy here? It is not an unknown practice in the newspaper business.

Or is the reporter still imbued with the enthusiasm generated by the football Ireland played against France, seduced by the style and the confidence of the performance. Keane made a good reply. He suggested it would be disrespectful to previous teams to offer an assessment. It was difficult, in any case, to compare. What was the reporter thinking of? Had he forgotten that Keane was in the team that qualified for the World Cup finals of 2002 in South Korea and Japan? Did he not remember the highlights of that campaign? The win over Netherlands at Lansdowne Road, the draws in Amsterdam and Lisbon and another draw at home with Portugal?

What of the win over a very difficult opponent in Iran at Lansdowne in the playoff? And the remarkably courageous battle against Iran without the injured Keane in intimidating circumstances in the away leg, before surrendering a meaningless goal in the 91st minute?

Heavens above ... have some forgotten that never- to-be-forgotten day at Giants Stadium, New Jersey, when Ireland with Keane in midfield beat Italy 1-0 in the World Cup finals of 1994?

There were players in Ireland's green that day who would give Brian Kerr food for thought if they were available today Denis Irwin, Paul McGrath, Andy Townsend, Ray Houghton, Steve Staunton.

Too much has been read into Ireland's achievement in drawing with France in Paris.

Switzerland put Ireland under more pressure in Basle they were more hard-working and more aggressive than France.

They targeted key areas in Ireland's team and closed them down diligently. Roy Keane was one singled out for attention. He misplaced three of his first four attempted passes, such was the pressure Switzerland exerted.

Keane had only just come back from injury so he was not at his best. But the point is, Ireland are still a long way from qualification and a long way from the finished article.

The continued evolution of Kerr's team promises much, as does their efforts to develop a more constructive, subtle and efficient style. In the meantime ... how about a bit more balance in our attitude?