No easy pickings for us in Krakow, warns Dunne

THE drama moves from the pitch to a podium in Krakow today with all eyes on the play-off draw for next summer’s European championships.

And Richard Dunne has warned Irish fans to be careful what they wish for.

On FIFA rankings alone, a tie against Estonia would be the best-case scenario for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side but that is not taking into account the momentum built up by the Baltic nation’s jump of 28 places in that ladder in recent months.

Away wins against Serbia and Slovenia and back-to-back defeats of Northern Ireland have taken the eastern Europeans this far.

“It’s a bit similar to Armenia,” said the Aston Villa defender. “If Armenia had got to the play-offs people would have fancied playing them but they are a really good side. You can’t take anything [for granted] in the play-offs.”

Dunne has little truck with the ongoing criticisms over Ireland’s style after yet another evening on Lansdowne Road where the opposition dominated possession for long spells.

“It was just a case of getting six points from the two games. If we could continue that to the play-offs we’d be more than happy. People can talk about us not being exciting to watch but as long as come next summer we’re off to Poland and Ukraine we’ll be happy enough.”

Nevertheless, Ireland’s stuttering performances since the early summer victories against Macedonia and Italy will have been duly noted by the coach of whichever side comes out opposite Trapattoni’s from the hat at lunchtime today.

One way or another, the Republic will offer a very different proposition to the other three top seeds of Croatia, Portugal and the Czech Republic, all of whom rely more on technique than physicality, so how does Dunne think Ireland are viewed?

“It’s all much of a muchness in the play-offs. Every team is similar. They all have their own attributes. I presume when they look at us they just think if they come here or we go there it’s going to be a tough battle.

“For us, it’s just about preparing right and making ourselves hard to beat.”

That will, once again, start at the back. The side’s cherished run of clean sheets was finally interrupted by the Armenians but Dunne and the rest of the rearguard aren’t as upset by that as people may think.

He said: “It had to go and if it was going to go you might at well lose it in a game you are going to win.”