Could Cassano be an omen?

He played no part in the national team’s qualification campaign, but the gifted young attacker was included when Giovanni Trapattoni named his squad for the European Championship finals.

We’re not talking about James McClean here. Instead, Antonio Cassano’s rapid rise eight years ago, and the impact he made for Italy at Euro-2004, stands in sharp contrast to McClean’s marginal role in Poland this week.

Just like McClean today, Cassano had two friendly caps to his credit when Trap called him up for the 2004 finals. The Roma striker was nearing his 22nd birthday back then. McClean now is a year older.