Dreamer Trap in for the long haul

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI echoed Martin Luther King yesterday by revealing that he too has a dream. A more modest version, perhaps, but one which still trusts a good deal to faith.

The Republic of Ireland manager, who has just agreed a two-year contract extension with the FAI, has not given up on our chances of qualifying automatically for the World Cup finals in South Africa, even though that would almost certainly require the Irish beating both Italy and Montenegro in Croke Park next month and also that the world champions would trip up at home in their final Group 8 game against Cyprus.

Looking ahead to the October 10 meeting with his homeland, Trapattoni said: “We have three possible results – lose, draw, win. We have to look at the game four days later and hope the pressure is on Italy’s shoulders. We have Montenegro at home, they have a game against Cyprus. Yesterday, I had a dream – maybe the last game will decide qualification. We must win against Italy for that to happen. With Juventus I lost the championship on the last day, even though we were two points ahead when we played Verona in the final game. That is football. Or look at Manchester United versus Manchester City. An incredible game. All is possible in football. So yesterday, I dream. But we must believe this.”