Green is the only colour for Tardelli

Marco Tardelli was conducting his media duties on the way out of Ireland ’s training ground in Gdynia yesterday when he began urgently tugging on the sleeve of this journalist’s t-shirt.

“Why black?” he asked with a little smile.

It was an entirely accidental choice, as it happens, the day’s attire for the travelling hack being generally dictated by what’s available after everything else has gone into the laundry bag. But the assistant manager, of course, was getting at a more meaningful point. The time for mourning is over. Croatia is gone, and Irish heads are back up for tomorrow’s make or break encounter with Spain. Right now, green is the only colour for Marco Tardelli.

“You saw training,” he said. “The players want to turn this situation around. They are fit. They are professional players and I think now, psychologically, they are ready to face Spain. And they want to show the country that they are good.”

Tardelli was asked if Spain, especially in the now pressing context of these European Championship finals, represented by far the toughest challenge the Italian management team has faced in the four years they have been in charge of Ireland.

“In this moment yes but I remember many tough games, like against Russia in Moscow ,” he replied. “It depends on the moment. And in this moment if we lose against Spain we go home. So, yes, it is very important for this reason.”

Tardelli admitted that the Irish players were deflated after their long-awaited first night at the finals ended in such crushing anti-climax in Poznan .

“After the match yes, but today no,” he said.

“Psychologically they are ready to play. They were fit and sharp in training before Croatia too but in that game we were very unlucky because maybe we could have avoided the first goal. But we recovered the goal and I think we played a good match because we saw in the second half we had a good chance and the penalty that the referee forgot. I think the little situations (decided the match).”

But what gives him hope that Ireland can do better against Spain?

“The players,” he said, repeating for emphasis, “the players. Their spirit. Their mood. They know it’s the last chance.”

Speculation is still rife in the Ireland camp that Jon Walters will get the nod to start ahead of Kevin Doyle – speculation which was hardy dampened by the sight of the Stoke City man partnering Robbie Keane up front as all the players took a full part in training yesterday. But Tardelli refused to be drawn on what will be Trap’s call.

“Maybe, but we have other solutions,” he parried. “Or maybe we can play the same team. We still have time to decide. During training we see if the players are good or not because we need them psychologically ready.”

And did he think a draw tomorrow night would be enough to keep Ireland in with a chance of getting out of the group?

“We hope for a win but we just need to play and then see what happens,” Tardelli concluded.