Trapattoni’s caution could cost Ireland once more

Trapattoni's cautious mentality contributed to Ireland's non-qualification for South Africa and could cost us again.

By Conor Hogan

Giovanni Trapattoni's cheerleaders will tell you that Ireland finished their World Cup qualifying group unbeaten which, while absolutely true, is a perverse way of looking at it. Ireland’s only victories in Group eight came against Georgia and Cyprus, none of which were achieved by a margin of more than one goal. The victories against group whipping boys Georgia were particularly fortunate; the first, luckily for us played in a neutral venue, was aided by a goalkeeping error, while Ireland only won the second thanks to a ridiculous penalty decision.

Sure, the qualification campaign was an improvement on the last one – but in all fairness, the previous manager was Steve Staunton - a man deemed not good enough for last year’s League Two bottom club Darlington. And Staunton still managed just as many victories as Trapattoni.

The Italian has banged on and on about instilling a winning mentality, but what he has actually instilled in the team is a ‘not losing’ mentality. He sets his team out like it was still 1977-1978, the era of two points for a win and one for a draw, when his Juventus team could win the Italian League despite drawing 14 out of their 30 matches.

Midfield

Glenn Whelan and whoever his partner of the day is, usually Keith Andrews, today Paul Green, basically sit in front of the back four and do very little constructive. Central midfielders with attacking mentalities like Wigan’s James McCarthy are completely ignored, while Manchester United’s Darron Gibson is once again on the bench.

Liam Lawrence and Damien Duff are left to create most of the chances from wide positions, but are also expected to track back and do their defensive duties. Duff’s injury has forced Trapattoni to play Aiden McGeady in today’s match – someone he doesn’t in any way fancy due to the fact that he gives very little defensively.

He still insists on starting matches with an ageing Kevin Kilbane at full-back, a man whose ever-presence in the Irish team continues to boggle the mind, considering the other options available. Seamus Coleman is magnificent going forward, destroying Gareth Bale in Everton’s match against Spurs last season.

The Donegal man was instrumental in Blackpool’s run to promotion last season. Marc Wilson, who Stoke saw fit to exchange Liam Lawrence, Dave Kitson and several million for, can play in any position across the back four, as well as in central midfield, while John O’Shea has played left back on many occasions throughout his career.

Testing group

Ireland have a much more difficult group for the Euros than they had for the World Cup. Slovakia showed their quality in the World Cup when they defeated Italy; something Ireland couldn’t manage in the qualifiers. Russia, though they didn’t qualify for the World Cup, are a much better team than previous top seeds Italy.

Ireland’s opening match against Armenia match is a far more dangerous one than it appears. Armenia have managed wins against Belgium and Poland in recent years, as well as draws against Portugal, Finland and Serbia. If Ireland draw against Macedonia or Armenia, something which is a definite possibility, it is rather unlikely they’ll be able to manage higher than third in the group.

Italy and France both showed in their World Cup performances that neither are particularly good teams. They have good players, better than Ireland have, but they aren’t good teams. As such, Ireland missed a golden opportunity to top their group and qualify for the World Cup automatically. In the end, it was less Thierry Henry’s handball and more Trapattoni’s unending caution that cost us qualification.

Follow JOE's live tracker of today's match between Ireland and Armenia, from 3pm in our football section.