Ireland seek fresh start after Euros heartache

It will be only five o’clock at home this evening but ten o’clock at night here in Kazakhstan when Ireland kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign in the intimate but impressive surroundings of the Astana Arena.

Think of a scaled-down Millennium Stadium or even a fully enclosed Thomond Park and you’ll get some idea of the appeal of the 30,000 capacity stadium which was only opened three years ago. But then in amazing Astana, the youngest capital in the world and a place where almost every other building seems to have been freshly constructed and vividly illuminated just moments before you’ve arrived, the Arena is hardly out of place with its exterior bubble-wrapping, retractable roof and synthetic pitch.

The latter is a necessary response to the ferocious winters which can see temperatures drop as low as minus 25 degrees. But the weather won’t be a factor tonight. Blue skies and warm sunshine have been the order of the day here since the team’s arrival but, with the setting of the sun, there is an immediate and sharp cooling off which, even this early in September, already hints at the bone-chilling extremes to come.

In fact, with all due respect to Kazakhstan, the real challenge for Ireland tonight will come from within: can an unfamiliar looking line-up put the Euros blues to bed at the first attempt and restore reason for optimism on what is only the very first stop on the long road to Rio? Speaking at a press conference in the stadium yesterday, Giovanni Trapattoni conceded that, with the retirement of Shay Given and Damien Duff and in the temporary absence of Richard Dunne and Keith Andrews, his was an Irish team in transition. But he expressed confidence in the balance of freshness and experience which will characterise the starting 11 in Astana today.

And, in particular, it seems he’ll be keen to see how James McCarthy handles the responsibility of his competitive debut.

“Sure, I know this is transitional but it is a good test for McCarthy and a chance for him to gain more experience,” the manager said.

“I usually say that it is difficult to achieve a result if you have to make three or four or five changes but McCarthy has a good personality. I have also urged him to speak louder on the pitch. But Simon Cox and Jon Walters have played a lot. And we still have the experience of Aiden McGeady, John O’Shea, Glenn Whelan and the rest. And experience is always needed to help the young players because they can be a little bit shy.

“We need to change, slowly, slowly. Robbie can help with advice, help them to grow. We also have John and Glenn who are in good positions to help with this.”

Sitting next to the manager and facing the Irish media for the first time since Poland, skipper Keane revealed he had indeed given thought to the notion of hanging up his boots but, in the end, it seems the magical lure of the green shirt won out.

“Of course I thought about it,” said the LA Galaxy man.

“When Damien and Shay decided to retire it was a sad day for Irish football because they have been two of the best players this country has ever seen so, yes, I thought about it. But the thought of never putting on a green jersey again was quite difficult to come around to, to be honest with you. And even now I’m dreading that day. So as long as I’m fit and healthy and as long as the manager picks me, I’ll play as long as I can for this country.”

Still, he admitted that he was missing his old comrades.

“We’d been together a long time. Me and Damien came in at the same time, and Shay, I think, just a year before us, and you get used to seeing those two faces every time the squad would meet up.

“And now you’re not going to see them again in the squad — unless, as the manager said, he speaks to them and can change their mind. If he can, well great. But it is a bit strange [without them].”

But that was then and this is now — and Keane reckons today’s replacements can still prove effective.

“Simon Cox is more a striker who can play wide, not a natural winger like Duffer, so he’ll probably tuck in a bit,” he observed.

“I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve see of James McCarthy playing for Wigan. He’s good on the ball, very clever and sees things quickly. And we all know what Jonny [Walters] can do, he’s very similar to Doyler. The changes won’t impact on the way I play. I will probably drop a bit deeper, help the midfield and try to help us keep the ball as much as we can.”

Adding that he’s rearing to go, Keane stressed it’s time to move on from the Euros. But experienced campaigner that he is, he knows his words in the media room will speak much louder on the pitch if Ireland can live up their favourites billing against a side which, while rarely on the end of a hiding, is still regarded as a rank outsider in European and world terms.

Anything less than a win for the visitors tonight, and it’ll be like the Euros haven’t gone away at all.