Good news everybody! Trap’s a happy camper so there should be no Saipan II

Giovanni Trapattoni is happy with our pre-tournament base for the Euros so there should be no repeat of Saipan this time. Right?

Even now, almost ten years on, the mere mention of the tiny Pacific island of Saipan is enough to cause families to fall out. The row between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy over the training facilities at Ireland’s pre-World Cup camp engulfed the nation and to say people still have strong views over is a bit like saying bears still use the forest as a bathroom.

Anyway, we can all rest easy ahead of the Euros as Giovanni Trapattoni is very happy with the proposed venue this time.

The Italian has selected the Tuscan town of Monteciano as his preferred pre-Poland camp and while it has not been confirmed, it is expected that Trap will get to do the final tune-ups in his home country.

“In Italy we have been offered a good option, 50kms from where the Italians are based," said Trap in today's Daily Star. "We saw this and it is very good to fly and to drive to. In May the weather is fantastic not warm and not cold. There are other options in Germany and Switzerland.”

But we know that Trap is pretty much a living God in Italy so he is surely getting a good deal in his home country so that’s most likely where the lads will be based before heading to our Polish base in Gdynia. And if Trap is happy then there should be no problems. Right?

One small worry we have is that Trap is not too up to speed on what happened in Saipan back in 2002 as he was managing Italy at the time and the news about Keane and Mick didn’t make it onto his radar.

Just make sure the pitch is not too hard Trap and have lots of cones and bibs. Oh, and if Roy pops in, hide.