SOCCER:GIOVANNI Trapattoni decided to keep it simple with the Republic of Ireland. The Italian took one look at the players at his disposal and opted to install a structure that would contain, rather than excite.

Dick Advocaat took the opposite approach with Russia. With technically superior players at his fingertips and a wizard like Andrey Arshavin drifting off the tip of their attacking spear, the Dutchman’s flowing tactics decimated the rigid Italian resistance.

It saw Russia pound Ireland with three goals inside 50 minutes before a desperate stream of long balls almost changed everything.

The Irish holding midfielders Glenn Whelan and Paul Green were rapidly overrun.

“We were outnumbered in there at times,” Whelan admitted. “They came with a game plan and it worked for them.”

Was this a reality check?

“It probably is. It is a kick up the backside as it shows just how difficult qualifying is going to be, but I think we have to look at ourselves, on how we played and how we performed. Obviously, to come back late on, we never gave up, but on the night we were just not good enough.”

So is a late revival inspired by pride good enough?

“No,” admitted Richard Dunne, the pillar of Ireland defence. “We proved against France that we can pass the ball and we can play football, it’s about being brave enough – and we weren’t brave enough tonight.”

It was suggested to Dunne that the management’s tactics are inhibiting playing football along the ground.

“We are allowed (pass the ball), but for whatever reason we just don’t feel comfortable doing it. We’ve got to have confidence, we’ve got to be braver when we have the ball. It’s alright going long with it, it’s probably the easy way out for players, but we’ve got to try and get our foot on the ball and try pass it and create chances.

“We’ve got to try and control games a bit more, rather than just kicking it long all the time.”

Sounds so simple.