Trap: These games are cup finals

GIOVANNI Trapattoni has warned people not to lose the run of themselves and think Ireland are already through to the European Championship finals.

No sooner yesterday had Estonia been plucked from the pot to meet his team in next month’s play-off than there was a wave of optimism about Ireland’s chances of progressing at the expense of the lowest-ranked team left in the draw.

But, speaking from his home in Milan after the draw in Poland, Ireland’s manager urgently preached caution.

“The statistics in this case have only a marginal value,” he said.

“These matches are like cup finals, and anything can happen. Undoubtedly, the small advantage that we do have, is that we are playing the second game at home. But let’s not delude ourselves that we have made it to the finals already. We have two tough matches ahead.

“I wasn’t praying we would get Estonia, absolutely not. Yesterday when I said that the teams are all strong to get to this stage, I meant it. I have already spoken to people who know them. They beat Serbia and Slovenia and put Italy under a lot of pressure. Let’s not make the common mistake of underestimating them. They have some really technically gifted players.”

Asked if complacency might be an issue for Ireland, Trapattoni replied: “I am a football man. I do not ignore the threat that this team represents. Only superficial observers would think that this is an easy tie. The players will know this and I know this.”

And the Italian was utterly dismissive of the suggestion that it would be a shock, not just in Ireland but throughout Europe, if his side did not overcome the Estonians.

“That is just not true. We are playing against a team who has the same right to be there as us. They had a good qualification campaign and have earned their place at the play-offs through hard-fought results, like us. I would not like to think that we have become big headed — that we have turned into a Brazil, Argentina, Spain, or Germany overnight. Have we forgotten where we are in the FIFA rankings?

“Why should we be favourites? What notions do you have in your heads that make us favourites? This is an international team which, like us, has made it to the play-offs.”

That said, Trapattoni admitted he needs to brush up on his knowledge of Estonian football, something he began to do immediately after the draw by speaking with the manager of the Italian side which topped Estonia’s qualifying group.

“I don’t know that much yet,” said Trapattoni.

“I saw the matches against Italy. I have already talked to Cesare Prandelli about them and I have begun collecting background information on the team from other contacts. Cesare was my player and he has given me good advice. And I know these Nordic squads — they are strong, technical, organised and professionally very serious. I have already been told that they are a very solid squad, particularly from a technical point of view in midfield.”

Trapattoni also reacted sharply to the proposal that Estonia might be described as Ireland-lite.

“They are like Ireland? How can that suit us?” he asked.

“This is a competition. A competition between two nations that have pride, ability and organisation. How can that be a help? There is nothing at all weak or light about this team. This is not a physical issue. It is a mental issue. When I say this a squad that is strong, it is about the mental preparation, the preparation that makes a team run for two days and never give up. It is not about how big they are.”

Finally, and inevitably, Trapattoni was asked if these play-offs presented him with an opportunity to bury the ghosts of Paris two years ago.

“Certainly the suspicions that the authorities wanted the big countries in the tournament left a bitter taste. This is not the case this time, as it has been clear all along what will happen so in that sense, yes.”

Meanwhile defender Richard Dunne echoed his manager’s caution in his own reaction to the draw.

“We have proved hard to beat over the last while and hopefully we can take that into these games and qualify,” said the Aston Villa man.

“But we are not a team that is going to hammer anybody or is miles better than anyone else. We know the expectation is that we should probably qualify. But it’s going to be a tough job and the worst thing we could do is take the game lightly.”

Further good news for Ireland yesterday came with confirmation from UEFA that, following his two yellow cards and sending off against Armenia, Kevin Doyle has incurred no additional penalty beyond a mandatory one-match suspension, meaning that while he misses the first leg against Estonia in Tallinn, he will be available for selection for the second leg in Dublin.