Marco Tardelli has warned the Republic of Ireland to take nothing for granted as they attempt to edge closer to World Cup qualification against Cyprus. The assistant to manager Giovanni Trapattoni has left the Republic players in little doubt as to what they can expect from the Cypriots at Croke Park on Wednesday.
Cyprus are currently languishing just one place off the bottom of Group 8 after
last night's 1-1 draw in Georgia — the only team below them, and that on goal difference.
However, Angelos Anastasiades' side could conceivably have been level on four points with second-placed Ireland but for an injury-time winner from Italian striker Antonio Di Natale in Larnaca last month and Levan Kobiashvili's 73rd-minute equaliser in Tblisi.
The fact that Efstathios Aloneftis missed a penalty before Michael Konstantinou gave his side the lead over Georgia simply served to illustrate the threat Cyprus will pose in Dublin, where they added a 1-1 European Championship qualifier draw in October last year to their 5-2 victory in Nicosia 12 months earlier.
Tardelli said: "The next match for Ireland is very, very dangerous — because Cyprus are a good team with good players who have a good motivation.
"We can't forget the last few years, because Cyprus beat Ireland 5-2 and then drew 1-1 at home. It is very dangerous. We need to take this match very seriously."
Asked if the Ireland camp had watched those games again in preparation for their latest test, Tardelli said: "Yes, every day. But there are different players and also a different mentality in the Ireland team.
"We will approach the game against Cyprus with trust and confidence. Now we are very strong, we are a very tight group. But also, it is a dangerous match."
A win for Ireland would set them up nicely for home clashes with Georgia and Bulgaria in the new year — and with the Bulgarians having taken a point from world champions Italy in Sofia last night, they have far from given up hope of snatching first place themselves.
Tardelli said: "I would have preferred Italy to win, because Bulgaria would have stayed on one point. But it is also good. But we need to beat every team to finish first, also Italy."
Trapattoni and his staff put the players through their paces at Gannon Park in Malahide once again this morning, although Caleb Folan and Alex Bruce were missing as they attempted to recover from groin strains.
Ireland are already without the influential Steve Finnan and Steven Reid through injury — while Stephen Kelly, who might have replaced the Espanyol defender, is also missing.
Paul McShane, on loan at Hull from Sunderland, has been tipped to fill in at the back — and Liam Miller seems likely to partner Glenn Whelan in central midfield, although newcomers Darron Gibson and Keith Andrews have also been mentioned in dispatches despite Andy Reid's presence in the squad.
The midfielder is yet to play for Trapattoni — much to the surprise of many commentators, although the Italian's desire to field holding players in the middle of the pitch has so far worked well.
Rumours of a bust-up between manager and player after the 2-1 win over Georgia in Germany last month abound, and Reid's Sunderland captain Dean Whitehead admits he is surprised by his club-mate's lack of international chances.
Whitehead said: "I speak to him \[Reid] all the time about it. It's bizarre how he can't get into the team. I hope they will realise soon, and he will be back playing. They must have some good players if he can't get into the team."
While Blackburn's Reid and Finnan will undoubtedly be missed, Tardelli is confident Trapattoni has fitting deputies within his squad.
He said: "We have other players. Steve Finnan and Steven Reid are really important, but the other players are as important as them.
"Trapattoni will decide how to replace them."
