Trap: It’s time for action

JUST hours to go now before kick-off in the World Cup play-off against France and, to judge by the escalating noises emanating from the Irish camp, the stakes just keep on getting higher.

Early in the week, Richard Dunne described the games as “two cup finals”. Then Liam Brady likened them to “a European Cup semi-final”. And now Giovanni Trapattoni has called the play-off “our World Cup final”.

The Irish manager came before a packed eve of match press conference in his best twinkle-eyed form. He began with an apology to the French media present, saying “I don’t speak French.” Then, with a knowing nod to the more familiar faces in the room, he added: “I don’t also speak English.”