Oh, and not forgetting the World Cup…

WITH all eyes now focused on the European Championship finals next summer, there’s a reminder today that there are further big tests in store for Giovanni Trapattoni and his players come the autumn.

Representatives from the six nations comprising Group C for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil meet in Frankfurt this morning to try to agree a fixture schedule for their qualifying games.

The associations of Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Austria, the Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan will all attend the meeting, with Irish interest being represented by a delegation led by FAI chief executive John Delaney. Giovanni Trapattoni will not be attending but will be available for consultation, as required, by phone at his home in Milan.