The wannabees v the Wallabies

YOU could call it the wannabees versus the Wallabies – the team that wants to get to the World Cup against the team that’s already there.

If reports of initially sluggish ticket sales suggest that, in these recessionary times, Ireland versus Australia in a friendly at Thomond Park hasn’t exactly captured the hearts and minds of the nation, then the same can’t be said of its lure for the men who actually wear the green shirt.

Of course, professional footballers will always tell you that they only ever take one game at a time but, even as the squad counts down for kick-off in Limerick this evening, it’s pretty clear the Irish players and management have one eye on tonight’s opposition and another on Cyprus in a month’s time.

Early season friendlies are rarely accompanied by such a palpable sense of bigger things to come but, even as he warned against jumping the gun yesterday, Robbie Keane couldn’t help making the connection between where Ireland are now and where they were this time eight years ago – the last time the country would go on to qualify for the finals of a major tournament.

“I think the way we are situated in the group is very similar,” said the captain. “The sense around the place and around the country is that same feeling we had years ago. But it’s up to us now as players to at least give us the opportunity to qualify. We certainly have the best chance now that we’ve had in a long time.’’

The battle for places – which could be joined sooner than expected by Blackburn’s Steven Reid who successfully came through 45 minutes of action in a 5-0 drubbing of Wrexham on Monday – should add some friendly fire to tonight’s proceedings, as Giovanni Trapattoni continues to fine-tune his squad for the competitive tests to come.

“We have prepared for this game with 100% attention,” the manager said yesterday, “not just because the result for us is always important but also Australia will be a good test and good preparation for the important game in Cyprus.”

Although Liam Brady had suggested earlier in the week that Trapattoni would start tonight’s game with the 11 he expected to take the field in Cyprus, the manager has clearly not finalised his thoughts on what’s required for that tricky qualifier just yet.

Thus, while Aiden McGeady gets the nod against Australia, that selection should not be taken, the manager stressed, as confirmation that in Nicosia Stephen Hunt will lose the starting place he filled so well in Bari and Sofia.

The Hull bound Hunt rejoined the Irish squad last night after having talks and undergoing a medical with the Tigers and can be expected to play some part in tonight’s game.

Similarly, Trapattoni, while likely to begin with his usual central midfield duo of Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews, has not ruled out putting in Darron Gibson for the Blackburn man from the off.

“Gibson has different qualities, a different vision,” he observed. “He has a great shot, good presence and, of course, he plays in a great team, Manchester United. It is important for me to see different individual players and to see them grow.”

One player who needs no introduction at all is Hull City’s Kevin Kilbane who will pick up his 97th cap for his country tonight, meaning that – all continuing to go well for the evergreen – he would be in line to hit the magic 100 mark for the game against Italy in October.

“Yeah, I would,” he smiled, “but if I don’t get to 100 I could honestly say, hand on heart, I’ve had the time of my life in the Irish squad – and that’s in victory and defeat, to be honest.”

And as one of the few veterans of the 2002 finals still in the squad, Kilbane can definitely say that he’s seen the two days in the green shirt.

And sometimes that’s even been in the course of 90 minutes, as in Sofia, when the full-back’s lapse in concentration cost Ireland a goal, even though he subsequently played his part in ensuring the team emerged with a precious qualification point.

‘When you get a bit older, you can handle things like that a bit better,” he observed.

“I was very disappointed after the game and didn’t want to talk too much. When you get home, to your family, you can move on and forget about it. And it’s gone now, to be fair.”

Of course, Kilbane has seen a lot more over the course of his lengthy international career – including the reigns of no less than four managers.

“Mick (McCarthy) was like a dad to be fair, when I first came into the squad,” he recalled. “He had that fear factor around him but I loved every single minute under Mick. I’ve so much respect for him.

“I still speak to Brian (Kerr), like I do to Mick. Brian didn’t get the rub of the green. We conceded late goal goals in crucial games that ultimately cost us.

“Under Stan (Steve Staunton), we started off with a brilliant result against Sweden and everyone was optimistic it would kick on from there, but it was probably the wrong time for Stan.”

And the current boss? “Giovanni is a legend in world football. I think he gave us all a lift when he came in. He’s given us so much belief that we can kick on and qualify for a major tournament. That’s been the key for the success we’ve had up to now.’’