Trapattoni resists call for one giant leap

A leap year game, maybe, but by no stretch of the imagination was this a leap into the unknown for Ireland.

On a night when James McCarthy, Shane Duffy and Seamus Coleman were left cooling their heels on the bench, James McClean had to wait until 12 minutes from the end at the Aviva Stadium before finally making his Ireland debut to a tumultuous reception from the crowd.

But it was another substitute, Simon Cox, who rescued a draw for the home side with just four minutes left, scoring a terrific individual goal to cancel out Milan Baros’ effort for the Czech Republic and extend Ireland ’s unbeaten run to 12 games.

Giovanni Trapattoni had clearly sign-posted his intentions ahead of the game: this would be a dress rehearsal for Poland not a brand new drama. Former manager Brian Kerr was only one among many to call for the script to be freshened up but the Italian, as is his wont, preferred to underline the familiar passages. So, short of just Richard Dunne and Kevin Doyle, the starting XI last night will, fitness permitting, almost certainly be the team which takes to the pitch against Croatia in June.

And that means the chances for the likes of McCarthy and Duffy and Coleman to stake a claim appear to be receding by the day, though Sunderland’s McClean can feel somewhat more optimistic after imposing himself on the game as much as he humanly could have done given his short time on the pitch.

Shane Long, leading the line in front of Robbie Keane, had the first effort on goal in the first minute, a header from a deft Aiden McGeady cross which, unfortunately went straight into Petr Cech’s arms. Then, with the Czechs showing no hesitation about throwing bodies forward, Shay Given was called upon to save at his near post to deny the experienced Jiri Stajner. And soon there was another nervy moment for the Irish keeper, but this one self-inflicted, as he had an intended clearance blocked down, diving bravely to retrieve the situation.

Barely 10 minutes in and the game seemed to be assuming a familiar pattern: the visitors to the Aviva dominating possession for long spells, Ireland doing their best work in disrupting the play and denying them space for a breakthrough. For long periods, McGeady, for example, did most of his best work heading away from the Czech goal, as he frequently burst a lung to track back.

But there were some decent intervals of more productive play from the home side too, not least when, after a composed bit of passing at the back, Keane instantly killed a long diagonal ball from Keith Andrews, only for Cech to block the skipper’s left-footed shot on goal.

Damien Duff continues to be a reliable creative outlet for Ireland and after good work by the winger resulted in a free on the right, it was his whipped delivery of the dead ball which saw John O’Shea come close to opening the scoring with a header just past the post in the 20th minute. And an otherwise uneventful first half ended with Given palming clear an angled effort from Jan Rezek as the Czechs, for all their possession, were afforded a rare enough glimpse of the Irish goal.

The half-time interval offered a little something to lift a listless crowd as, on the day that was in it, a marriage proposal was offered and, thankfully, accepted down on the pitch. But, as the main business resumed, Trapattoni was still saying no to McClean, the Irish team which ended one half starting the second, true to the manager’s form in friendlies.

But just five minutes after the restart, it was all change on the scoreboard as Baros was given all the space and time in the world by a lop-sided Irish defence to make the most of Rezek’s clever reverse pass and beat Given with ease. It was a rare moment of confusion on the part of a back four which generally coped well in the absence of Dunne.

The reversal at least had the effect of injecting some urgency into Ireland’s game, with McGeady now becoming more of an offensive threat — though his crosses failed to trouble Cech — and even O’Shea pushing forward.

Finally, just past the hour mark, Trapattoni made his move but, instead of McClean or McCarthy, he turned to two players he already knows well — Stephen Hunt replacing Duff and Paul Green, back after a long spell out, coming in for Glenn Whelan.

Next it was a change up top, with Jon Walters and Cox replacing Long and Keane, and there were less than 15 minutes left on the clock when, to the biggest ovation of the night, the Sunderland winger finally came on to make his debut for the Republic of Ireland, replacing McGeady.

McClean’s first touch in international football was cheered to the echo and Trapattoni will also have liked the way he tracked back to nick a ball off a Czech foot.

Four minutes from the end, after Andrews had done well to win the ball and then feed the substitute striker, West Brom’s Cox showed wonderful skill and composure to beat Czech from the most acute of angles.

It set up a grandstand finish, with McClean whipping a trademark cross into the box and having one whole-hearted shot blocked, but the Irish couldn’t nick a winner on a night which, admittedly after a protracted and even baffling wait, finally sent a crowd of 37,741 home with something to cheer about.

Substitutions for Ireland: Stephen Hunt for Damien Duff (62), Paul Green for Glenn Whelan (62), Jon Walters for Shane Long (70), Simon Cox for Robbie Keane (70) James McClean for Aiden McGeady (78)

Substitutions for Czech Republic: Tomas Hubschman for Petr Jiracek (45) Daniel Kolar for Milan Baros (58), David Lafata for Jiri Stajner (58), Frantisek Rajtoral for Theodor Gebreselassie (66), Vaclav Pilar for Milan Petrzela (67), Tomas Pekhart for Jan Rezek (87).

The learning game - What we learned

That Trapattoni says what he means but doesn’t always mean what he says. So despite telling the media that Shane Duffy would make an appearance, the Everton tyro remained firmly rooted to the bench.

What Trap learned

Nothing about James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman or Shane Duffy, but he did get further confirmation that his team is hard to beat – and at least James McClean got a limited chance to show what he could bring to the Euro party.

What happens next

Trapattoni will hope and pray that his favourite sons stay fit and that Richard Dunne recovers from the broken collarbone that could yet keep him out of action until close to the finals.