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.