Given: Trap has given us real belief

THE manager calls them the little details, the sort of things that can make all the difference between winning and losing in places like Skopje.

Giovanni Trapattoni has worked hard to polish his team’s mentality when it comes to seeing the job through. On Saturday, as Ireland protected a two goal lead, it was obvious the Trap message has got home to a team minus the talents of Dunne, Duff and Doyle through injury and suspension — and Gibson, Wilson, Stokes and McCarthy through choice.

Trapattoni said as much in his post-match press conference and Shay Given said as much himself when he wrapped up his football season before heading off on a coaching course in Belfast.