Growing seeds of discontent

DAMIEN DUFF out, Steven Reid out, Caleb Folan out, Darron Gibson out – the news might be all bad on the injury front but, as the rest of the Irish squad convened in Malahide yesterday to begin preparations for the game against Italy, Giovanni Trapattoni struck a decidedly upbeat tone.

The Republic of Ireland manager insisted that morale is good, confidence is high and that his team are good enough “to meet any team without fear.”

But even if the Irish do manage to take the scalp of the world champions in Croke Park on Saturday, they will still have work to do against Montenegro on the following Wednesday – while hoping that Cyprus do them a favour in Italy on the same night – if they are to prevent their qualifying campaign extending into the minefield of the play-offs.

And yesterday the manager, Shay Given and Kevin Kilbane all lined up to express their dismay at FIFA’s belated decision to seed the draw for those play-offs.

“Business is business,” said Trapattoni, who admitted that his initial understanding was that it would be an open draw.

“The big teams command the table in Europe. FIFA and UEFA need to think about that and also about the ranking system. Every country should have the same rights. The draw should give the same opportunities to everyone.”

Given didn’t mince his words when asked about the controversial seeding decision which overturned FIFA’s earlier intention – as proclaimed on their website – to hold an open draw.

“It’s pretty disgusting, to be honest,” said Given. “I think the rules should be laid out clearly before any ball is kicked and then there’s no dark cloud or whatever. I think it’s ridiculous how they can make a decision now when some of the big-name nations are maybe struggling to qualify.

“It’s totally unfair on us smaller nations. If they say it before a ball is kicked then at least you know the picture, you know exactly where you stand but to change it now is absolutely ridiculous, beyond belief and I don’t think it’s right at all.”

Kevin Kilbane who, like Given, is in line to get his 100th cap against Montenegro – assuming both play against Italy – was another unimpressed by the decision- making of the powers that be in world football.

“It’s a joke, let’s be honest, because they always seem to bend rules and change things in FIFA,” he said. “Little things like this come out over time. If it was said at the start, I don’t think there would be a problem. We would all know we were on a level footing. Whatever happens it’s a straight draw and that’s it. They seem to move the goalposts really, don’t they? I think it’s wrong, I really do, but there is nothing that anybody else in the squad can do about it. We just have to try and focus on these two games coming up.”

But, for all the angry talk of seedings and play-offs, the main message out of the Irish camp yesterday was one of determination to beat Italy on Saturday and force the outcome of Group 8 down to the last game.

And Giovanni Trapattoni made no secret of the fact that taking on his home nation in Dublin will have special significance for him.

“Sure, but I hoped the table would be a little bit different,” he said with a smile. “But it’s not only great prestige for me because we play Italy, my country. I also wish to win. Yes, we need two points to get into the play-offs but for 90 minutes we will play to win and we will prepare the team this week to achieve this goal. It’s not about personal revenge or anything like that. We have to believe that it’s possible.

“I hear them say in Italy that Ireland is a good team at the moment. They are a little bit afraid about us, they sent a lot of scouts to watch the games and evaluate the team. They have respect for us. It’s not because they like me more than (Italian manager) Lippi. Sure Italian people like me (laughs). If I am playing cards, they wish me well. But they want Italy to win.”

WHILE Damien Duff is definitely out of the game on Saturday, Trapattoni said that he has not given up on the player – who is due to have a further scan on his calf injury in London – joining up with the squad in time for next Wednesday’s final qualifier against Montenegro.

However, last night Fulham were issuing a gloomier prognosis, the club’s website reporting that the player was certain to miss both games.

Meanwhile, Given and Richard Dunne both took only a minimal part in training at Malahide yesterday as they were afforded extra time to recover from their exertions in the Aston Villa-Manchester City game on Monday night.