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XI angry men: will this be the side to start on Sunday? INPHO/Donall Farmer

I might play one up front against Croatia, says Trap

Ireland were overrun by their hosts in Budapest at times tonight.

IRELAND MANAGER Giovanni Trapattoni has hinted that he may start with just one striker against Croatia on Sunday in Poznan.

The Italian was speaking after his side drew with Hungary 0-0 in Budapest tonight.

Trapattoni told Setanta Sports afterwards that’s just happy his squad didn’t suffer an injury. Shay Given and John O’Shea proved their fitness ahead of the departure for Poland. The Aston Villa keeper looked comfortable on his return from a knee injury before making a half-time exit for Westwood. O’Shea, meanwhile, was given the full 90 minutes.

Croatia’s manager Slaven Bilic watched from the stands as the Irish were over-run at times and will have learned much ahead of their Group C clash in six days’ time.

Do you think the five-man midfield comment was for Bilic’s benefit?

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20 Comments
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    Mute Daniel O'Sullivan
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    Jun 4th 2012, 11:36 PM

    jaysus lads relax I honestly think what was on the players minds was not to get injured hence the poor show ,come Sunday they will give it socks C’Mon you boys in green

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    Mute Steven Clancy
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    Jun 4th 2012, 10:58 PM

    anyone who watched tonight saw the ease with which opposition crated space from midfield, or between two lines of defence, to create space to get a shot away from, Spain Croatia and others will destroy us if we don’t fill these gaps, Dunne & given can’t stop everything

    54
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    Mute Jambbie
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    Jun 4th 2012, 10:44 PM

    Maybe just play defenders Trap. FFS, in his seventies and more afraid of losing than tryin to win. Like c’mon Ireland n all but positivity from the manager please.

    53
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jun 5th 2012, 1:11 AM

    I mighta playa one or maybe none. I think he operates on playing not to lose because he’s afraid to try to win as he doesn’t trust in the team’s abilities. I’d rather if we went out of the championship losing while trying to win, than by trying not to lose but not trying to win.

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    Mute Billy Kennedy
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    Jun 5th 2012, 1:18 PM

    John, we’re frankly not a Spain, Germany or Brazil. We’re not even an England or a France. Defensive, “negative” football is what has gotten us to any major competition we’ve ever been involved in, be it under Charlton, McCarthy or Trap. Look at the 60′s to late 80′s and the tactics that were used then, and see where that got us. If we had the quality of player then maybe be could play successful attacking football, but that’s never going to happen with the Whelans, Gibsons or Hunts of this world, who I would still class as good players, just not attackers.

    1
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    Mute Stephen Doyle
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    Jun 4th 2012, 10:55 PM

    I’m genuinely afraid for us at the euros, can only hope I’m wrong

    46
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    Mute maurice frazer
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    Jun 5th 2012, 10:26 AM

    I agree. I fear we are in for a big fall.

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    Mute Peter Boyle
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    Jun 4th 2012, 11:16 PM

    Mind games from Trap I reckon.

    37
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    Mute Eamon O Regan
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    Jun 4th 2012, 11:29 PM

    Are these mind games with the Irish supporters?

    18
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    Mute Graham Coghlan
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    Jun 4th 2012, 11:19 PM

    once again I thought walters and cox were good when they came on. would like to see walters for Doyle actually if anything next week as he can play similar to his role at stoke selling back as a third man in midfield.

    25
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    Mute Brendan Peters
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    Jun 4th 2012, 11:21 PM

    There were a few gaps tonight sure- tonight was the night to have them make mistakes- what’s not being said here is with better finishing of our own and linesman decisions we could have bagged a few of our own- I don’t care what anybody says- Walters has to start with Doyle or keane he holds the ball up better than the two put together we didn’t play well tonight but we learned as much from that as Croatia or anyone else did- we won’t make the same mistakes again

    25
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    Mute gingerman
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    Jun 4th 2012, 10:57 PM

    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.. They will still rip us up.

    20
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    Mute Adrian de Cleir
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    Jun 5th 2012, 12:05 AM

    Usual stuff, a friendly post mortem where we talk about how we are going to be torn apart. Im not saying we will get out of the group, but I dont think we are going to look as vulnerable as that when it actually matters.

    Probably for the best that we were shown up a little this evening, the team has done a good job at staying grounded for the past 4 years. Nothing wrong with going in with the belief that we can beat some teams in the group, so long as its done from an underdog humble less pressured position, rather than a cocky yet high pressured position.

    CMON IRELAND!

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    Mute Ali Sunbyrne
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    Jun 5th 2012, 1:22 AM

    Absolutely! We’re not exactly the soccer champions of the world, we’re playing with the talent we have. We’re in a big competition for the first time in 10 years. Enjoy it!

    19
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    Mute Luke O'Brien
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    Jun 5th 2012, 2:21 AM

    The manager has his own style and Italian way of running the team. We have to trust his judgment and get behind the team for the championship and I’m sure they will give 100%! Come on Ireland!

    13
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    Mute Tom Curtis
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    Jun 4th 2012, 11:38 PM

    Trap is an anachronism. He has no concept of the game as played outside of Italy circa 1985. Having said that: Come on you Boys in Green!

    12
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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Jun 4th 2012, 11:17 PM

    One up front, Trap you are playing offensive …….

    9
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    Mute Billy Kennedy
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    Jun 5th 2012, 1:23 PM

    Depending on how you play, one up front can actually be quite an offensive tactics. More mid-fielders to field the ball to the forward. On this occassion though he’s obviously getting desperate to plug that hole in the mid-field. I wonder is there any english wonderkids we can poach with an Irish Granny? :D

    1
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    Mute South Dublin
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    Jun 4th 2012, 11:31 PM

    We get overrun in midfield as Whelan and Andrews are too defensive. Nothing creative in there at all and they give them too much time on the ball. A decent midfield will play around them with ease. Either whelan or Andrews should play with 1 more less defensive minded man in the middle… The likes of Gibson or a McCarthy/Fahey (both injured or not available unfortunately).

    8
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    Mute Gerard Fitzgerald
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    Jun 5th 2012, 12:55 PM

    drop doyle and ward for kelly and walters and we will improve our chances ,im concerned like everyone else,we must change things a little for croatia.

    1
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