Always look on the bright side of life
Obviously I’m not talking to you Ronaldinho, or even you Robbie, devoted readers of these pages though I know you to be but, rather, I’m addressing all those football nuts who never quite made it beyond schoolyard or park and who are now restricted to “expressing themselves” solely through the medium of ‘Angry Fans.’
How different it is for the blessed few of San Marino. When those boys put away their textbooks or clock off from the bank of an evening, they don’t slouch off to the pub to watch all the starry, far away action on the big screen. Instead, they get to be ferried to the airport where they board a plane and fly off to play football in some of the great stadia of Europe (and Lansdowne Road) and against some of the top teams in the world (and Ireland).
Throw in a nice hotel, good grub and the bit of sightseeing, and who wouldn’t be happy to settle for the odd 13-0 humiliation? Also, never mind what all the cynics say, San Marino football is clearly on the rise. The arc of their European Championship qualifying graph is unmistakable: 13 goals shipped against
Germany, seven against the Czech Republic and now a mere five against the Republic of Ireland — at this rate, the team currently treading water at 194 will soon be putting the likes of Bhutan (192), Samoa (189) and Guinea Bissau (181) under serious pressure in the FIFA world rankings.
Taking everything into account then, probably the biggest blow to manager Giampaolo Mazza’s pride this week was the printing error in the FAI media guide which appeared to suggest that, in some kind of midnight coup, his side had been taken over by Cypriot boss and all-round funny guy Angelos Anastasiadis.
Ah well, at least he wasn’t re-christened Stan Marino.
Speaking of our own dear gaffer, you couldn’t blame him if even he casts the occasional envious glance at his San Marino counterpart. After a stirring draw against the Czech Republic and a stroll in the park against San Marino, me and mine were still humming and hawing about his stewardship of the Republic, still harping back to that brutal night in Nicosia.
During the week, Staunton expressed annoyance that we in the media were still banging on about it. “It’s behind us now,” he insisted, “there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Which is fair enough, though the idea that we should all just try and forget about it is destined to remain forever on the hopeful side short, perhaps, of Ireland winning the European Championship and the World Cup back to back. Twice.
Still, in recognition of how deeply offensive that night was to all persons of taste and refinement, perhaps we can all agree that, from now on, we will refer to Cyprus in print only as C****s.
Like Tommie Gorman, we must always be mindful of the little children.
And after the ferocious marital discord which followed the shortest honeymoon on record in international football, maybe it’s time too that we gave the gaffer a break and opted to accentuate the positive.
First, credit to Staunton for keeping his cool in the face of the savaging he received in the aftermath of C****s. And it also reflects well on his relationship with his squad that the Irish team found so much strength in adversity against the Czechs.
His back may have been against the wall before he finally relented and recalled Lee Carsley, but the Everton man’s retention for the San Marino game suggests that Staunton now sees the wisdom of having such an experienced campaigner in the heart of his midfield.
The manager also made the right call in playing Andy Reid behind Robbie Keane against the Czechs and, though the Charlton man will surely never again be given as much time on the ball as he was against San Marino, there are encouraging signs that the best passer in the team could yet fulfil long dormant hopes for him as a genuine playmaker for his country.
Elsewhere on the pitch, goals for the frontline partnership of Keane and Kevin Doyle were as welcome as they were overdue, while the sudden emergence of Anthony Stokes as a serious contender must be counted a real bonus.
Similarly in defence, where Paul McShane is set fair to be the find of the campaign, with Paddy McCarthy’s man of the match display in the ‘B’ game against Scotland, offering further reassurance about the team’s solidity at the back.
Shay Given’s return from serious injury and the remarkable comeback of Bobby Robson are other reasons to be cheerful. And when you factor in Germany’s little setback in Nicosia, it all means that Steve Staunton has every reason to breathe a sigh of relief as his first year as an international manager draws to a close.
Doubtless, there will be more testing times ahead but, after all that he’s been through in the first 12 months, the rookie manager is more than entitled to the reprieve.
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