Trap’s knockout blow to the detractors
And not just qualification. Also the long, fractious debate over Giovanni Trapattoni’s philosophy. Inevitable qualification will justify everything he’s done. All of the criticism can be consigned to history — a history which should now see Ireland qualify for an international tournament for the fifth time.
Finally.
Even in that context, though, this ultimately emphatic victory offered an intriguing distillation of the entire debate.
By the 34th minute of Ireland’s play-off last night, we essentially had the Trapattoni era in microcosm.
After a mixed but mostly impressive start to the game, everything was going his team’s way. Ireland were both a goal and a man up away to eminently beatable opponents.
Even though the Estonians had displayed a greater elegance on the ball at times, Ireland had put themselves in that commanding position thanks to a performance which did show a fair few signs of evolution.
Essentially, Estonia couldn’t handle Ireland’s controlled, progressive aggression. That was illustrated by the quicksilver run which saw Robbie Keane force a red-card foul from Andrei Stepanov. And it was encapsulated by the key, opening goal.
Indeed, that moment carried a fair bit of vindication for Trapattoni and the two players involved. Aiden McGeady, routinely seen as wasteful in recent games, was both efficient and exquisite in supplying his cross from the left. Keith Andrews, often dismissed as one-dimensional, surged into the box to power home a header. It capped a period of player in which the midfielder had also found a fine range of passing.
But, once Stepanov was sent off, there came the tipping point.
In such a supreme position, would Ireland press home and punish such inferior opposition? Moreover, would Trapattoni overturn the trend of the country’s mostly horrific history in the play-offs? With their seventh last night, Ireland have played more official play-offs than any country in history. And, by extension, they have also lost more than anyone else. Three of those — Belgium, Turkey and France — involved away goals, with deflating first-leg strikes ultimately proving decisive in contributing to Ireland’s elimination.
Now that he had one in the bag against undeniably naive opposition who were taking their first steps on such a stage, would the manager act upon it and press home the advantage? Or, as we’ve seen so often with Trapattoni, would his natural inclination to protect what he has result in the usual regression from Ireland — inviting unnecessary doubt and danger as we’ve seen against the likes of Armenia and Macedonia?
Ultimately, would Trapattoni step up, rather than stand off? The answer was emphatically the former. And, much more pleasingly, not only did that suggest an evolution in philosophy from Trapattoni. It hinted at a lot of hope for the future.
As soon as the second half began, Ireland started to spray the ball around in a way that hasn’t always been characteristic of their performances under Trapattoni. But, more importantly, they also acted on it.
Having started to probe around the edge of the Estonian box, Keane finally found space on the edge of it. Previously, he would have greedily gone for a shot from a tight angle. But reflecting the newly mature composure the Irish captain radiated in the pre-match press conference, he paused, looked and scooped a delightfully inventive cross over the top for Jon Walters to head home.
And, thereafter, it only got better. For both captain and country. Goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko couldn’t hold Andrew’s storming, low free-kick, allowing Keane to add to his record tally. The captain appeared to personify Ireland’s growth.
Minutes later, Estonian centre-half Raio Piiroja became their second player to receive a red card, this time for a handball. And, in the closing stages, progress was turned into a procession as Stephen Hunt’s run forced the penalty which saw Keane hit the fourth.
Ireland hadn’t just gone out of sight. They had really gone for the jugular.
By contrast, the Estonians hadn’t just lost their captain. They had more than lost their way.
And that is, it must be said, the one caveat to all of this as regards Ireland’s evolution and any future performances. Last night, they were playing a poor team who were further handicapped by two red cards.
But, like the debate over Trapattoni’s style, that is mere colour. It won’t show up in the record books. Ultimately, the Italian is set to end Ireland’s long wait for an international tournament. And the septuagenarian did so through an evolution many thought beyond him.
When opportunity presented itself, his team elevated the level of performance.
ROY KEANE has pulled out of the PFAI awards tonight.
The former Irish captain was asked to be guest of honour at the function in the Burlington but pulled out yesterday after coming down with a stomach bug.
The Players’ Player of the Year, First Division Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Irish Overseas Player of the Year and Referee of the Year, along with the Premier Division and First Division teams of the Year as voted for by the League of Ireland players will be announced tonight.
IT WAS double delight for Ireland full-back Stephen Ward, who also sealed a new contract at Wolves yesterday that will keep him at Molineux until the summer of 2015.
The 26-year-old joined Wolves from Bohemians in January 2007 and has featured in a number of different positions for manager Mick McCarthy during his time at the club.
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