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"Time to name the team? Nah, not yet." Peter Morrison/AP/Press Association Images
Euro 2012

Trapattoni delays naming team to face Spain

Playing 4-5-1 against the World and European Champions is still very much an option for the Republic of Ireland.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI KEPT Spain guessing about his plans for tomorrow’s crunch Euro 2012 clash by delaying the announcement of his starting XI.

The Italian had been expected to name his team at a press conference this afternoon and end the speculation about how the Republic of Ireland will approach a game they cannot afford to lose.

But addressing the media, he said that he would wait until closer to the 7.45pm kick-off in Gdansk before giving the reigning World and European Champions a sneak peek at the challenge they will face.

“I have an idea but we can’t always give the opponent the lineup,” he said coyly.

The possibility of playing 4-5-1 with a lone striker — adding an extra man to combat the world-class Spanish midfield — has been discussed at length this week and Trapattoni indicated that this is still very much an option.

I’m thinking about the best solution for us in this game. Our objective is to be offensive but at the same time we need also to find a way to help the midfield because sometimes we suffer in this situation.

After training today, I can better clarify our situation psychologically and physically.

Poll: Should Trap drop Robbie Keane for the Spain game tomorrow?

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