Danger here ahead of Sofia mission

AND so begins Giovanni Trapattoni’s week of living dangerously.

Having already lost striker Kevin Doyle to untimely injury before then shipping a couple of goalkeeping casualties in the farcical friendly fire surrounding last Friday’s game against Nigeria, the Ireland manager now prepares to lead his side to Sofia for a pivotal qualifier at one of the trickiest times of the season against a team which will be effectively fighting for its World Cup life.

And Trapattoni admits that he has had to give special consideration to the timing of Saturday’s Group 8 game against Bulgaria.