Andrews: The difference between Ireland and England

Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews has distilled down the essential difference between playing at international level for Ireland and England — enjoyment.

Irish Examiner columnist Andrews has offered an insight into the management of Giovanni Trapattoni in a special 64-page Euro 2012 Guide, published with tomorrow’s newspaper, stating: “He doesn’t rule with an iron rod.”

Andrews writes: “We love getting together and we genuinely enjoy each other’s company. The manager has recognised the kind of personalities we are, and also the character of the country: we do like a laugh and a joke but when business is business, we crack down. He lets us have our freedom to a certain degree whereas, at times, the England camp seems to have been run more like a prison camp. And in this age, you can’t treat grown men like that; you have to give them a certain amount of trust.”