Given and McGeady expected to be fit
With Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni having already lost Steve Finnan to a hamstring problem, Tardelli revealed yesterday in Dublin that the Manchester City goalkeeper and Glasgow Celtic winger are both receiving treatment for injuries following weekend games for their clubs.
“McGeady picked up a knock and Given has a problem with his shoulder. Both are undergoing treatment at their clubs but I’m sure that they will be fit,’’ Tardelli said.
Asked if he was happy that Bulgaria would be without Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, who was ruled out after suffering an ankle injury during United’s 2-0 defeat at Fulham on Saturday and will also miss the home tie in Group Eight against Cyprus in Sofia on April 1, Tardelli was coy.
“Happy? I’m not happy that he is injured,” he said. “I would prefer to play against Berbatov because football is important for young people and I would prefer if Bulgaria had their full team, if there weren’t any injuries.
“For us, I think we are a good team and it is possible for us to win against Bulgaria, whether they are with or without Berbatov. Yes, he is a big player – not the best player in the world because, for me, ahead of him are the likes of Ronaldo and Rooney — but he is a very good player. But, no, I’m not happy that he is injured.”
New Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov insists losing Berbatov will not diminish Bulgaria’s confidence for Saturday’s game at Croke Park.
“Unfortunately, we’ve lost our most important players,” said Stoilov, who has also been deprived of winger Martin Petrov and defender Alexandar Tunchev.
“But this is the reality, we can’t change it and we have to do everything possible to win against Ireland,” Stoilov told a news conference in Sofia.
Stoilov said Berbatov would be replaced by Hertha Berlin striker Valeri Domovchiyski and Aston Villa midfielder Stilian Petrov would wear the captain’s armband.
“We know it’s an extremely important match for us,” said Stoilov.
“Ireland are a well-organised team and I want to see us being brave in attack.”
Remarkably, the coach believes Bulgaria will not relinquish all hope of reaching the 2010 finals in South Africa even if they lose to Ireland.
“I did a lot of calculations and I know we can qualify even if we lose in Ireland but this is the worst scenario and I’m not considering such an outcome,” he said.
Looking ahead, somewhat reluctantly, to Ireland’s Italian job in Bari on Wednesday week, Tardelli suggested that Marcello Lippi’s decision to replace familiar faces with fresh blood in his squad could only be good for the Azzurri.
“I think Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino were not in good shape and the new players are very young, very strong physically and I think it’s better for Italy,” he said, adding: “I’m very happy that it will be a good match against Italy but now we think about Bulgaria because it is a most important game.”
Meanwhile FAI Chief Executive John Delaney has revealed that the association has alternative travel arrangements in place should next Monday’s planned day of industrial action threaten the Irish team’s scheduled departure from Dublin airport for Bari that afternoon.
Said the FAI boss: “We have at least two options available to us if Monday turns into a difficulty.
“One would be going Tuesday from Dublin and one would be going Sunday probably from Belfast. We’ll monitor events. We’re in constant contact with SIPTU and with the Dublin Airport Authority and they’re keeping us advised.
“To be fair, the Bulgarians are coming in to us on Friday (for Saturday’s game), so going out the day before the match in Italy might be the preferred way of doing it – if there is a problem on Monday, but that may not come to pass either. I think we have until midweek to make up our minds.”
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