SOCCER ANALYST:Although cautious early in the competition there are clear signs of brighter days ahead for this Ireland squad, writes BRIAN KERR
WHEN THE dust settles on the controversy of our horribly unfortunate exit on Wednesday night it would be unfair if the play-off games are remembered in years to come chiefly for the monumental errors of the officials in the offside/Thierry Henry handball incident.
The bright attacking, dominant display should remain memorable for it can be said that Ireland overran, bullied even, the French team admittedly weakened by the absence of Jeremy Toulalan, Eric Abidal and Julien Escude’s early injury.
I had previously outlined chinks in France’s tactical organisation and approach as well as doubts about some individuals but I was hugely surprised that the current Irish line-up could exploit those weaknesses so thoroughly and with such devastating effect to almost turn around Saturday’s 1-0 home deficit.
The team seemed liberated when facing extinction from the party in South Africa next summer – all this after the conservative displays we have witnessed both home and away throughout the group stages.
If the decision was the managers, to allow John O’Shea and Kevin Kilbane off the leash and Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan to alternate support to the front men he should be congratulated for trusting their natural energy and late conversion to a more expansive game. The players did seem to take responsibility for their own actions and this bodes well for the future. The team and each of its individuals played with a desire, passion and tactical guile that was a credit to their own qualities and Giovanni Trapattoni’s work.
Many of the performances in the group games were unconvincing and over cautious with narrow wins against Georgia and Cyprus and draws with Bulgaria, Italy and Montenegro. The same sequence of results away from home was more creditable when added to Wednesday’s display in Paris.
Good fortune certainly came Trapattoni’s way, in various circumstances along the journey, the change of venue from Georgia to Germany, the early red card in Bari and favourable decisions in Cyprus.
Solidity combined with Wednesday’s outstanding revival demonstrated clear signs of the consistency required to gather vital points that will make all the difference towards future qualification.
On the personnel front, the emergence of Sean St Ledger as a capable centre back partner for Richard Dunne has been an important development allowing John O’Shea to play in his now established club position of right back. After the mistakes and uncertainty in the back four when Paul McShane and Stephen Kelly featured in earlier games, and again in Paris, this is a very welcome development.
Whelan and Andrews have not convinced that they have the class, mobility or passing range to dominate at international level but their exceptional contribution against Italy and France promises a long-term future for the pair.
Of the new players who have come into the picture under Trapattoni, Liam Lawrence has impressed the most and added to the more physical attacking options provided by others like Leon Best and Caleb Folan who, along with the promise of Darron Gibson, have shown themselves adequate options at international level.
The proposed increase of European finalists to a ridiculous 24 is not occurring in Poland/Ukraine so the margin for error to qualify in the next campaign remains the same.
So, hopefully, the Irish squad can remain intact. Nobody would fault Kevin Kilbane for stepping away but the rest of the old guard should remain and they will be strengthened by the progress of the newer players that have learned how to thrive on this stage.
That is Trapattoni’s greatest achievement to date.
Richard Dunne, Robbie Keane and Damien Duff must continue to lend their guile and leadership to future squads – even if there is slightly less zip and dash in the latter pair’s attacking assaults. Keane’s goal on Wednesday from Duff’s brilliant play emphasises their continued importance.
With Kevin Doyle, Aiden McGeady, the Hunt brothers and O’Shea there are reasons to be confident going into the next qualifiers.
The lack of depth of quality in the squad means the possible addition of Andy Reid, Stephen Reid, Steve Finnan and self imposed exile Stephen Ireland will remain topics of conversation. They will improve the group so it remains frustrating to think we cannot call upon them.
The continuing awful results for our under-21s suggests a lack of ready made talent emerging but the relaxing of the qualification for players not born in Ireland may well be used to bolster the current squad. Then again, players like Darren O’Dea, Chris McCann, Shane Long and Eddie Nolan have the potential for more prominent roles given the opportunity or experience.
There are plenty of good goalkeeping options available but I hope they will have to wait in the wings for a long time to replace the ever consistent Shay Given.
Sadly, there doesn’t appear to be anyone with the class of a Duff or a Keane on the horizon. As teenagers they were outstanding – promoted straight to the senior ranks. Anthony Stokes looked like the answer but he has failed to live up to early promise.
I was surprised at Trap’s suggestion that no extra-time should be played after two identical draws and that the game should go immediately to penalties. I wonder would he have felt this way had Ireland home advantage in the second leg.
I’m unaware of anyone in the game who would not prefer 30 minutes extra-time rather than going straight to penalties with such a massive prize at stake. Irrespective of the venue. In the old days it used to go to a third game as, famously, the Ireland versus Spain tie went funnily enough to Paris in 1965.
The case for the use of video evidence, the assistants behind the goal tend to cause more confusion, seems stronger than ever.
Unfortunately it will be sorted out a little too late for us.
