Trap upbeat despite O’Shea blow

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND boss Giovanni Trapattoni arrived in Moscow last night with a growing injury crisis after defender John O’Shea became the latest withdrawal for tomorrow’s defining Euro 2012 qualifier in Russia.

The 30-year-old Sunderland man had to admit defeat in his battle to shake off calf and hip injuries after training in Malahide yesterday. But his manager remained defiantly upbeat as Ireland go in search of one of the most elusive prizes in international football — three points in Moscow.

Since France won there as world champions in 1998, the Russians have only lost two competitive games on home soil, one against Germany, the other against Slovakia in the current Group B qualifying campaign.