INTERNATIONAL SOCCER: Cyprus v Rep of Ireland:YOU DON'T have to look too far for evidence of a troubled recent past here in Nicosia but a few miles out of the city, at the GSP Stadium, the pictures that line the stadium's function rooms and corridors are a celebration of a divided nation's sporting achievements with few recalled more proudly than the crushing defeat of Ireland's football team three years ago.
An indication of their mindset ahead of Ireland’s return this weekend was provided by a local paper whose headline read: “Unfortunately they don’t underestimate us”.
Nonetheless, the various strengths of the home side, Giovanni Trapattoni explained last night at the pre-match press conference prior to training at the stadium, played a significant part in his decision to start with Stephen Hunt on the left side of midfield rather than Aiden McGeady.
The Italian suggested the Hull City player had edged out his rival on a number of fronts, with his recent goals at club level and unfailingly energetic approach to the defensive as well as the attacking side of his responsibilities topping the list.
Elsewhere, the only doubt that had hung over his selection was whether Sean St Ledger would be fit and the Italian confirmed that providing there was no reaction to his run out at the stadium last night, the Preston player would start in central defence.
At last night’s press conference, Trapattoni also addressed the question of the seating arrangements on the team flight. His comments contained a hint of contrition (he added players beyond the minimum number had contributed to the situation) and left some lingering confusion – there were more players adversely affected than his explanation would account for and while he insisted he had no problem travelling economy having done so “90 per cent of his life” he did not give up his seat on this occasion.
But when asked about the situation, Robbie Keane was more precise. “It was a misunderstanding, it was sorted,” he said. “I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it, the issue will be addressed.”
Hopefully, it will be remembered as no more than an amusing footnote to an important win and Trapattoni insisted his preparations have been, as always, he says, more than adequate.
“I study every little detail and I pass them on to the players,” he said, “so I am always calm before the game.”
Once it starts, he suggested, he could not legislate for the mistakes of others and started to tell a story about a player who has missed a great scoring chance as Italy were crashing out of the World Cup to South Korea in 2002.
“Yeah, Christian Vieri,” came a voice from the floor, but Trapattoni quickly cut across him: “In life,” he said with a broad grin, “you can name the sin but not the sinner.”
There were plenty of both from an Irish perspective here three years ago but only five of the starting line-up survive, although a sixth, McGeady, is virtually certain to feature.
The caution Trapattoni has exhibited has the capacity to be both a good and a bad thing this evening. Certainly, in the centre, the defensive work of Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan should rule out any repeat of the descent into chaos in the second half of the 5-2 defeat. Neither, though, will there be the creative influence from the middle of the field that might prove critical to opening up a side like Cyprus.
If they are to win – and to retain the ambition of actually winning the group then they almost certainly must – then Damien Duff and Hunt will have to play well and the visitors may need Keane to maintain his recent run of form in front of goal at this level.
At the other end, Shay Given’s presence alone would appear to make another defeat improbable but for all the team’s supposed emphasis on defence, Ireland have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven games, a run that began after the 1-0 defeat of Cyprus at Croke Park almost 12 months ago.
Kevin Kilbane’s recent form is a concern, although one would expect he and Given will make their 100th senior appearances in the game against Italy next month.
The team would be weakened on the other side of the defence if St Ledger is forced to miss out and Stephen Kelly comes in, allowing John O’Shea to move inside to the centre.
That Ireland are capable of winning almost goes without saying but then world champions Italy probably didn’t expect to require a goal in the 92nd minute to take three points this time last year.
The team appears to possess the right combination of confidence and determination heading into the game, with Keane declaring yesterday the players are “tired” of talking about 2006.
“It’s in the distant past,” he said before adding, “I think the reality is they’ll be more worried about us that we are about them.”
The other thing that may be on Ireland’s side is the good fortune Trapattoni appears to enjoy at key points in this campaign: the Georgians having to play in Mainz, the sending off of Gianpaolo Pazzini and now the suspension of Michael Constantinou, easily the best of the Cypriots in 2006 and scorer of two of their goals.
News last night that Bulgaria were still having to contemplate a last minute switch of their game against Montenegro to another venue in Sofia because the pitch at the Vasil Levski stadium was so badly damaged by a recent Madonna concert only added to the sense that this 70 year-old, born on St Patrick’s Day, is blessed with the sort of good fortune commonly attributed abroad to the nation whose team he manages.
CYPRUS (probable):Avgousti; Garpozis, Charalambous, Konstantinou, Ilia; Charalambides, Satsias, Michail, Avraam; Aloneftis, Okkas
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (probable):Given (Manchester City); O'Shea (Manchester United). Dunne (Manchester City), St Ledger (Preston North End), Kilbane (Hull City); Duff (Fulham), Whelan (Stoke City), Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Hunt (Hull City); Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
