I think if I’ve learned anything about football is that there’s never a sure bet. It wouldn’t be a bet if it were for sure, would it? Ireland go out to Italy looking to take points off the Italians on their home turf. It’s like asking your three year old to go up and take the steak off the lion. Or is it really that hard to take points off the world champions? Schillaci (hero of the ’90 World Cup for Italy doesn’t think so: “Knowing Trapattoni, they can probably just about get a draw!”
Even Italy’s manager Lippi pipes in with: “Ireland are our main rivals for qualification, as the table shows” and having watched Ireland beat Geogia in Croke Park, he commented “This is a good side that merits plenty of respect.” So there will probably be lots of spin about respecting the Irish from the Italian tacticians but will Ireland have the gall to go out there and send the Italians back to ‘Mama’s kitchen’. I for one sure hope so. If we want to be taken seriously at any tournament, it’s time to take responsibility and beat the best. To beat Italy in Italy would shock and lift Irish hearts to a plateaux that perhaps hasn’t been seen since the World Cup of ’90. Let’s hope that Ireland get more than just respect out of the Italians. I settle for three points rather than respect. 
Let’s finish off this wee post though with a few more thoughts from Lippi:
“You can see the hand, the foot and the head of Trap at work in this side. In 10 months, with the help of Marco Tardelli and Liam Brady, he has transformed Ireland!
Or how about Corradini who worked for 4 years alongside Trappatoni: “Every coach has to build a team according to the abilities of the players he has available,” Corradini says. “Trap has stuck with a 4-4-2 formation that the players are comfortable with but has tightened up various aspects of the team’s play. There is a big difference in technical quality between the players of Italy and Ireland but Ireland are just behind Italy on points.” And nobody in Italy is worrying about Bulgaria any more.”
I think it is a fair comment to say there is a gap in technical ability between the Irish and the Italians but there will be a compensation in graft particulary away from home and against World Champions. You can’t help thinking though IF ONLY Stephen Ireland and Andy Reid were up for it and part of the setup, there might be a change in Italian thinking in this game. Stephen Ireland and Andy Reid have class that could create some pizza aches for the Italians on their home turf. This is of course what we’ll blame everything on if we lose but will be forgotten about to an extent if we come home with some points.
Let’s hope for Ireland’s sake that Trapattoni has the upper hand in the tactitional games. This is surely a huge game for the Irish team and Shay will be hoping too for a result that doesn’t have them remembering the sights and sounds of beautiful Italy but the plaudits hopefully of a job very well done.
What are your thoughts? No chance or every chance of causing upset? Leave us a comment here!
