It may only be a friendly, but with one eye on next month's World Cup qualifiers Giovanni Trapattoni has named the strongest team at his disposal to face Wales tomorrow night.
Trapattoni’s team face the Sweden and Austria in two games which will define their World Cup campaign at the start of next month and the Italian has opted for an adventurous 4-4-1-1 formation for tomorrow’s match at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Up front, Wes Hoolahan will operate behind lone striker Shane Long with Hull's Robbie Brady and Stoke's Jon Walter's providing width on either flank. Glenn Whelan will win his 50th cap in midfield alongside James McCarthy, the only one of the starting line-up not currently employed by a Premier League club.
In the absence of the injured Sean St Ledger, Ciaran Clark and John O'Shea start at the heart of the Irish defence while Keiren Westwood deputises for the injured David Forde in goal.
Trapattoni has warned his side tomorrow’s clash will be a friendly only in name and he is under no illusions that Wales remain a potent threat to his side’s positive run of recent form, even without Gareth Bale, which has seen them lose just once in 2013.
Trapattoni was Italy manager when they were beaten 2-1 by Wales at a sold-out Millennium Stadium during qualifying for Euro 2004. The atmosphere will be considerably more low-key tomorrow night, but he remains wary of the Welsh.
“This is no friendly,” he said. “I know this country. I was here many years ago with Italy, as was their scorer that night, (Craig) Bellamy. We won in Italy but we lost over here and we know about this team, I have seen so many games and I know the Welsh players, they have a good mentality and they are international players.
“After this game we can reflect, and we will know from our attitude and personality whether we are ready to play against Sweden.”
Trapattoni is pleased he will not have to face Bale’s combination of pace, power and skill, but admits it is a shame for the home fans to miss out on seeing the Real Madrid target.
“I am a sports fan, I have 50 years in football,” he said. “It is a shame for Wales and all football fans. He is the sort of player everyone loves. For us it is okay and I can say we are lucky he is not playing. But I understand the situation, what is important for Bale and Real Madrid whether he goes there or not.”
John O’Shea, meanwhile, believes Hoolahan has the talent to make the most of his opportunity to stake a claim for a regular spot. O’Shea said: “He has developed late in his career but it has been to our benefit. The manager has slowly introduced him and we are fully aware of his talents.
“The players have seen it, the manager has seen it, not just in the Premier League but every day on the training ground. Hopefully he will be a vital part for us during the latter stages of this campaign.
“As a tall defender he is a nightmare as he is a tough guy. He is not afraid to take a few knocks but he does get in pockets behind the midfield four and that is what the manager will want from him tomorrow night. Hopefully he can supply Robbie Brady, Shane Long and Jon Walters, and we know he can weigh in with a goal himself.”
Rep of Ireland v Wales: Westwood (Sunderland); Coleman (Everton), Clark (Aston Villa), O'Shea (Sunderland), Wilson (Stoke); Walters (Stoke), McCarthy (Wigan), Whelan (Stoke), Brady (Hull); Hoolahan (Norwich); Long (West Brom).
