Dunphy, Giles and Italian job that nearly was

THEY’LL talk the talk with Bill O’Herlihy on Saturday night, but John Giles and Eamon Dunphy walked the walk for Ireland the last time Italy played for points in Dublin.

Giles captained the Republic from central midfield. To his right, Dunphy created Jimmy Conway’s goal with a well-flighted free-kick.

“We should have won that match,” recalled Paddy Mulligan, whose memories of a landmark encounter are clear and detailed, even after 38 years. “We just didn’t take our chances.”

But Italy took theirs to win a Euro 1972 qualifier 2-1. In the process, they extended Ireland’s winless run to 18 matches.

The occasion on May 10, 1971 was historic because it marked the return of international football to Lansdowne Road for the first time since 1927. Italy were the reigning European champions and had lost the 1970 World Cup Final to Brazil in Mexico City.

Ireland were struggling. Qualification for the finals of a major competition was 17 years away. An FAI Committee had only recently stopped selecting the team, and manager Mick Meagan was gradually establishing his independence.

But Ireland had some seriously good players, including legendary Preston goalkeeper Alan Kelly (father of the current goalkeeping coach), right-back Joe Kinnear (Tottenham), and left-back Tony Dunne (winner of a European Cup medal with Manchester United in 1968).

Giles was in his prime at Leeds United, while Fulham winger Jimmy Conway formed a three-man attack with Don Givens (Luton Town) and Steve Heighway, who had contested the FA Cup Final for Liverpool against Arsenal two days earlier.

Ireland’s selection would have been stronger but for injuries to Stoke City striker Terry Conroy and Chelsea defender John Dempsey.

Dempsey and Mulligan, in fact, would help the London club to win the European Cup-Winners’ Cup against Real Madrid in Athens the following week.

“Italy were very strong,” said Mulligan, who was partnered in central defence by Southampton’s Tony Byrne. “Their first touch, awareness, movement and quick thinking were tremendous.”

Despite the absence of injured stars Gianni Rivera and Luigi Riva, Ferruccio Valcareggi named eight of the players who started against Brazil in the World Cup final 11 months earlier, including the entire back four, led by the great attacking left-back Giacinto Facchetti (Inter Milan).

Napoli goalkeeper Dino Zoff earned his 13th cap: 11 years later he would captain Italy to World Cup glory in Spain. Inter playmaker Sandro Mazzola dominated in midfield, creating chances for club colleague Roberto Boninsegna, who had scored Italy’s goal in the 4-1 defeat by Brazil in Mexico.

Boninsegna’s partner was Pierino Prati, the hat-trick hero of AC Milan’s European Cup Final victory over Ajax in 1969, when a certain Giovanni Trapattoni won his second Champions’ Cup medal.

Italy caught Ireland napping with a quick free kick in the 15th minute, and Mazzola’s cross was headed home by Boninsenga.

“Their speed of thought and action from that free kick was typical of the difference between us,” said Mulligan. “In the English game in those days there’d be time to get back in position to defend a set play, but Italy moved the ball like lightning and made us pay.”

When Conway equalised from Dunphy’s delivery eight minutes later, Mulligan was convinced a famous victory was possible.

“We were certainly playing well enough to beat them. They were there for the taking that night.

“But although we rattled them, Italy were able to regain their rhythm and their passing game.”

Sure enough, Prati pounced in the 60th minute to finish a move involving Mario Bertini, Mazzola and Boninsenga.

Switched to central midfield at half-time when Limerick’s Al Finucance replaced Eamonn Rogers (Blackburn Rovers), Mulligan made a lasting impression on Mazzola with a full-blooded tackle.

“I launched myself from about 15 yards and I took ball, Mazzola and everything in the process,” he recalled with a laugh. “The look I got from him told me I was doing my job.”

Do events almost four decades ago carry any lessons for Trapattoni’s team at Croke Park on Saturday? “Of course they do,” insists Mulligan. “The hardest thing in football is to keep concentration when you don’t have the ball, especially against a team as good as Italy. Trying to get the ball back for long spells leaves you mentally wrecked.

“I’ve always believed in the saying: ‘Passing keeps a team together’. So it’s very important for Ireland to pass the ball well, and I’m concerned that we tend to lose possession too easily.

“Having said that, it’s hard to criticise Trapattoni after the results he’s got with Ireland. I’ve followed his career very closely since I came across him when managing Panathinaikos against Juventus in the UEFA Cup and Liam Brady was playing.

“He has a certain way of playing and it has proved very effective. I won’t be surprised if we win 1-0.”