Duff and McGeady can make the difference, says Tardelli
“Estonia is similar to us as they need to stay concentrated and compact,” said Ireland’s assistant manager.
“Like Estonia, we need to stay together and help each other. This is important. Maybe, maybe, we have more skilful players but sometimes that is not important.”
But, then again, tomorrow and Tuesday, maybe that will make all the difference. With so much focus on the Irish strikers in the run-up to the game, the role of the men Giovanni Trapattoni likes to call “the swingers” has been somewhat overlooked. But Tardelli had no qualms about putting the wide men centre stage yesterday.
“I think Duff and McGeady are players who can change the match,” he said.
“We need them to beat men and get into the box and shoot. There might be goals for them in these games, why not? Although, for me, it’s important only that the ball goes in the net. I don’t mind who puts it there. I hope it’s Richard Dunne!”
Like Trapattoni, Tardelli refuses to consider Ireland as favourites yet he can’t help expressing confidence about the outcome over two legs.
“Why? Because I believe in my players. I don’t know if we are better [man for man] but, at this moment, I believe in my players. They have played against good teams like Italy and Croatia and played well and against Russia they played with great heart. We need the same now.
“We must not worry about players on yellow cards [including tomorrow’s probable starters McGeady, Whelan, St Ledger and Kelly]. We can’t say, ‘don’t tackle’. They must play hard and tough. For me, we must play without any regrets. And I think we are ready.”
And Tardelli dismissed talk emanating from the Estonia camp about how they feel under no pressure, having over-achieved to even get to the play-offs. Asked if that attitude might make them more dangerous opponents, he replied: “I think Estonia speak so because they want to put pressure on us but I think Estonia is a good team. We need to focus on this match very, very well because it could be very dangerous to think otherwise.”
The good news for the Irish party before it flew out to Tallinn yesterday afternoon was that all the players nursing knocks from previous days — including Shay Given, Richard Dunne and Keith Andrews — took a full part in the morning training session at Gannon Park in Malahide.
“We have not a problem,” said Tardelli who confirmed the only selection issue up for grabs is whether Robbie Keane is partnered from the start by Jon Walters or Simon Cox. The answer to that will come this afternoon when Giovanni Trapattoni holds his pre-match press conference in the Estonian capital.
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