Italian media impressed by Trap’s great escape

It was all up with Giovanni Trapattoni after the Germany fiasco, according to his Italian compatriots.

An old warrior, one of the best, loved by all — well most anyway — he’d finally reached his use-by date and was on his way home for a well-earned retirement.

They remember his fate after Italy’s debacle in Portugal in 2004 and they could sense the frustration in Ireland, building on the disappointment of this year’s European Championships.

“Trap has never changed, and never will,” was the conclusion of the Italian media: now is the time to say goodbye.

The Irish fightback in Torshavn has altered that conclusion, although not completely.

The Faroe Islands are minnows, but minnows who can bite, as the Italians know themselves.

Only 12 months ago the Azzurri arrived in Torshavn for a European qualifier fresh from a win against Spain, and scraped home thanks to an early goal from Antonio Cassano. They might have been even more embarrassed had a shot from Suni Olsen not hit the post with Gianluigi Buffon caught napping,

“Trap discovers Treasure Islands” was Wednesday’s headline in Il Quotidiano, with the Ireland boss even stealing the headlines from Fabio Capello — whose Russian team only managed to beat Azerbaijan thanks to late penalty given for a foul that replays showed was outside the area.

“Trap wins, and breathes again,” was the verdict in the Gazzetta dello Sport and the Turin paper La Stampa also implied it was more a reprieve than an acquittal.

“Ireland disappointed — but Trap stays on. The 4-1 win against the Faroes has breathed new life into the odds on his survival.”

Trapattoni’s rigidity has often been a topic of debate, and sometimes derision, in his home country. But then Italian football is all about tactical sophistication and clever ploys and they recognise that many of the Ireland squad are not playing for clubs where you learn to switch tactics week by week.

The energy and commitment of Ireland’s younger players has impressed Italian observers.

Maybe Marco Tardelli will be arguing their case more strongly in the months to come.