Irish camp wary of Grosso

THE threat posed by Italy’s marauding full-back Fabio Grosso is one of the reasons why Liam Lawrence appears poised for a starting place for Ireland at Croke Park tomorrow night.

For the second day running in training yesterday, the Stoke City man featured in the ‘yellow bib’ selection which is normally close to Giovanni Trapattoni’s match line-up.

And while Assistant Manager Marco Tardelli insisted that no final decision had been made about tomorrow’s starting 11, it was clear that Grosso’s expected presence on the pitch is a factor in Trapattoni’s thinking.

“We think Lawrence is a good player with good experience,” said Marco Tardelli yesterday.

“And on the left side of the Italian side is a good player, Fabio Grosso.”

The 31-year-old Juventus player scored in Italy’s last game, a 2-0 win in Turin against Bulgaria, but is best-known in his home land for the goal which set the Azzurri on the way to victory against Germany in the World Cup semi-final in Dortmund in 2006 – a clinical strike followed by a wild celebration which recalled for many Tardelli’s own outburst of ecstasy after scoring in the World Cup final against West Germany in 1982.

“In the last match against Bulgaria Grosso played very, very well – the whole team did,” said Tardelli.

“He’s a left-back, very strong physically, he plays more offensively and crosses very well. I don’t know who will be the player against Grosso but I think we have a good player there also.”

Questioned about the potential significance of Lawrence’s performance in the friendly against South Africa, Tardelli said: “Against South Africa, I can’t remember one player who didn’t play well. But Lawrence scored a terrific goal and played very hard. He’s a good experienced player – but so is Stephen Hunt a good player and physically strong too. I think it’s possible for Hunt, (Aiden) McGeady or (Andy) Keogh to play.”

Tardelli once again hailed Ireland’s disciplinary record as they go into the final two games in the qualifying campaign with just six players on yellow cards. “It’s very important because we have a small squad and need always every player. Today we have three players injured who are very important for us – Duff, Gibson and Folan. It’s better that we don’t pick up yellow or red cards because the next match is very important for us.”

There are no new injury worries for Ireland after Richard Dunne and Sean St Ledger both took a full part in training yesterday.

And although Shay Given did sit out the end of session match, Tardelli assured reporters that the goalkeeper was just getting some extra rest after playing on Monday night for Man City.

Asked if, in Given and Gigi Buffon, the Croke Park crowd will get to see the two best goalkeepers in the world tomorrow night, Tardelli replied: “Yes, I think so.” And which is the best? “We will see in Croke Park!”

While Tardelli fully expects Italy to be looking for three points – “it is in their destiny to win” – the Assistant Manager expects that many in his homeland would also like to see Ireland qualify.

“Yes, it is possible because Giovanni, Liam and me have many friends in Italy,” he smiled. However, when it comes to Italians who might like to see Ireland actually come out on top tomorrow night, Tardelli could only think of two outside of the Irish management team: “My daughter and my son? Yes!”.

And what would it mean to one of Italy’s own favourite sons to beat his native land? “It would be important because I am a professional coach,” said Tardelli, “and when the match starts I will be very emotional.”