A NEW IRELAND but same old Giovanni Trapattoni. In an otherwise assured pre-match press conference, the Irish manager added his usual element of uncertainty by suggesting Robbie Brady would only be in the team depending on his performance in training.
On first naming his team, Trapattoni put the young Hull winger in the XI but with a significant caveat.
“I spoke with him,” the Italian explained. “I said are you sure, you are OK? He said ‘I am sure, I am OK.’ I wish to see. I liked him against Poland. He must repeat this game and he promised me.”
Trapattoni also insisted that the issue with Brady was not physical or anything to do with an injury but “only psychological”. And, although it seems clear that Trapattoni’s words were no more than a technique to motivate the 22-year-old and that he will eventually start the game, the Irish boss said Andy Keogh would begin in the game in the event of Brady not being ready.
“Keogh [will play], but we are away from home and it’s different. Robbie is more offensive. He makes a great job and it’s important. I asked him, you must repeat this [against Poland] and he said yes, but I will ask him to confirm this.”
The other surprising decision was to start Paul Green instead of James McCarthy, but Trapattoni explained this was tactical and to do with someone covering Seamus Coleman’s occasional forays forward from right back.
“When he [Coleman] goes, we need a little bit, not protection, we decide this result is important. It is important we play our game.
“We play away. I have seen many Sweden games. International games are different physically, attitude, personality. If Coleman goes, we must also [cover].
“I have respect for McCarthy. Despite my respect for James, you cant say he is creative. He is good line to line, he is not creative. I hope he increase his personality. There are players who give time to other players. James is not typical player [like this], but he can grow as he is young enough and in a few years he could be better than [Glenn] Whelan.”
Trapattoni also expressed full faith in the young players, such as Coleman, he is beginning to use more.
“My duty after the Euros was to pay attention for qualify we lost Germany missing five players. We make also the friendly game against Poland and it changed slowly. These young players give me confidence and trust about what they can do. It is important they play how I see them in training and their clubs.
“We must play with same attitude, commitment, balance to achieve this good result. How we play against Poland, with commitment, balance, mentality.”
