SOCCER/Republic of Ireland v Poland:LIAM BRADY had suggested on Monday the Republic of Ireland team is overseen now by a manager for whom winning every game is important and if anyone doubted the Dubliner then, Giovanni Trapattoni yesterday weighed in with the supporting evidence.
While many of his counterparts across Europe will be using their November friendlies to try out new talent or tactics, the Italian has made just two changes, both forced, to the side that beat Cyprus for tonight's game against Poland. In the absence of Robbie Keane, Shay Given will wear the captain's armband for a second time, while Caleb Folan gets his first international start and Andy Keogh replaces Aiden McGeady on the wing.
The manager indicated more than once yesterday he might make six substitutions over the course of the game and Keith Andrews and Alex Bruce do seem likely to feature. But his recent record will hardly have the rest of the squad giddy at the thought of how much action they are likely to see and who knows, Andy Reid might just be happy he got to stay at home after all.
Poland, like Ireland, have amassed seven points from their World Cup qualifiers so far - although they have played a game more and since beating the Czech Republic 2-1 last month they have lost by the same score to surprise group leaders Slovakia, prompting renewed criticism of coach Leo Beenhakker.
The Dutch coach has brought a weakened and slightly experimental squad. Prominent regulars, most notably skipper Michal Zewlakov of Olympiakos and Bolton's Ebi Smolarek, are injured, while others have been dropped as part of an attempt to revitalise the team in the wake of yet another disappointing championship finals.
Trapattoni, though, was busily talking up both the Poles and their coach yesterday, hailing their recent experience against some of Europe's better sides. He suggested some of the newer players would benefit from the occasion, but, critically, he made no bones about the fact he wants his side to finish the year with the fourth victory of his short time in charge.
"Hopefully, they can repeat the performance against Nottingham (Forest), although Nottingham are a famous English team while Poland are a great European team. Still, I have said that the result is important; we will look to finish 2008 with a good result."
The Italian was again generous in his praise of Given who, he says, he has recommended to a number of managers at home. "Unfortunately, with the Italian teams it's a problem, they spend money, money, money on strikers, but will pay only a little bit for a goalkeeper, " he said. "A goalkeeper, for me, is important like a striker. A good one can stop two or three certain goals in a single game."
For his part, the Donegal man said he was honoured both by the comparison Trapattoni made between him and Gianluigi Buffon and the fact he had been chosen to captain the side once again.
"It's a long way from Lifford to leading Ireland out at Croke Park and it's a great feeling," he said.
There was praise too from the manager for Keogh, along with some words intended to be of comfort to Stephen Hunt who, he seemed to suggest, can be better used from the bench.
Then there is Folan, in whom Trapattoni seems to see rather more than his predecessor famously did when attempting to hand the striker his first call-up a couple of years back.
"He's not so big, but he's intelligent and he's quick," said the manager. "He realises immediately when the midfield is under pressure and he comes to help out. He comes and he takes the ball and allows the other players time. He's important for his presence. He knows when to help, when to play for his colleagues."
Beside him up front will be Kevin Doyle, still a slight doubt for the game yesterday because of a bump he had received to the head. Trapattoni expressed confidence, however, the Reading striker will start and hinted that one of his club mates, either Noel Hunt or Shane Long, may join him in the attack at some point.
To accommodate everyone mentioned, though, the manager would have to go well beyond his record of four substitutions, made against Norway in Oslo three months ago.
Asked whether he had revised upwards his estimation of Ireland's chances of topping their qualification group in the wake of reports that John Delaney had said Trapattoni now feels the Irish can finish ahead of Italy, the manager suggested Italy might be finding life harder than expected just now because of injuries and loss of form.
Pressed for something a little more precise, he paused, shrugged and settled for simply asking back: "Why not?"
IRELAND: Given (Newcastle United); McShane (Hull City), O'Shea (Manchester United), Dunne (Manchester City), Kilbane (Wigan Athletic); Keogh (Wolves), Gibson (Manchester United), Whelan (Stoke), Duff (Newcastle); Folan (Hull), Doyle (Reading).
POLAND (probable): Fabianski (Arsenal); Wasilewski (Anderlecht), Jodlowiec (Polonia Warsaw), Dudka (Auxerre), Wawrzyniak (L Warsaw); Blaszczykowski (B Dortmund), M Lewandowski (S Donetsk), Gargula (GKS Betchatow), Krzynowek (Wolfsburg); Guerreiro (L Warsaw); Brozek (W Krakow).
Referee: Kristinn Jakobsson (iceland)
