GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI admits he is hoping the Republic of Ireland might benefit from a cancellation on the base-camp front for next summer’s Euro 2012 finals with sides that have provisionally booked to stay in Poland potentially changing their plans if they are drawn to play group games at the far end of Ukraine.

Speaking in Kiev last night, the Italian acknowledged that Ireland’s qualification for the tournament via the play-offs had placed it at a disadvantage compared with group winners when it came to securing one of the association’s preferred training camps.

However, he suggested a little good fortune in this evening’s draw might tilt things back in his side’s favour.

“Italy, Germany, Spain; the teams that qualified first, they have taken the best places,” he said, “but if they are drawn to play in Ukraine then perhaps we could take their place in Poland”.

Specifically, the Republic of Ireland have been reported in the Polish media to be keen on the camp at Gniewino, 50 kilometres to the north west of Gdansk which the Spanish currently have first refusal on.

The holders and world champions, though, have a 50-50 chance of being drawn in Group B which would mean them playing all three of their matches in Kharkiv, some 1,600 kilometres to the south west.

That could be viewed as too much of a trade-off by Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, although several teams have committed to basing themselves in Poland regardless of whether they are drawn to play their games there or not because of what are reckoned to be superior options on the hotel and training front.

The latter, not surprisingly, is said by FAI chief executive John Delaney to be the priority.

“Ultimately hotels are hotels at the end of the day,” he said yesterday. “The most important thing is to get the pitch right . . . not like a while back.”