Trap urges players to prove quality against England

It’s been billed as ‘more than just a friendly’ and Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has urged his players to use this week’s glamour fixture with England in Wembley as an opportunity to prove they are capable of competing with the elite nations.

The Boys in Green have experienced a difficult twelve months as the highs of qualifying for a first major tournament in ten years quickly turned to calls for the Italian to be replaced at the helm after an European Championship campaign to forget.

However, Trapattoni remains in the managerial hot seat and even though few actually expect his side to come away from London with a victory on Wednesday, the performance will come closely under the microscope with a crucial World Cup qualifier on the horizon.  

It’s eighteen years since Ireland last got the chance to pit their wits against the old enemy and  the thousands of fans making the trip across the Irish sea this week will be desperate to get one over on their illustrious opponents. But, it’s essential that the 73-year-old understands the rich history and meaning behind the fixture instead of using it as a mere run-out for his squad ahead of more important games.

Trapattoni will use Ireland’s first trip to the new Wembley as an opportunity to test the depth of his squad but he did admit a positive result against England would do his players little harm.

"People pay their money and they want to see a show, but they also want a result. When you play not so well, but you have achieved a result, the supporters are 50 per cent happy; if you play well and lose the game, 51 per cent are not happy." He explained.

His English counterpart Roy Hodgson has the luxury of selecting from a large pool of players who are plying their trade for the top teams in the Premier League while in comparison, the Irish squad contains players from clubs occupying the lower reaches of the top-flight and Championship.

"The players play in England for Stoke and many teams; the England players play for Manchester United, they play for Arsenal.

"But we can show them we are the same - that's very important. That's a stimulation for me, it's very important that they show they are every bit as good." Trapattoni told the media on Monday.

Trapattoni and Hodgson know each other from their days managing in Serie A and the two bumped into each other on Saturday during the Champions League final.

Hodgson has seen a number of players drop out of his squad for the Ireland game through injury but Trapattoni had little sympathy for him.

"I met him at Wembley. He told me he has doubts about missing some players, but I don't think so," he added.

"He's missing (Steven) Gerrard - okay. (Andy) Carroll is also out, but they have a strong team.

"They have others - (Jermain) Defoe, (Wayne) Rooney, (Daniel) Sturridge, (Danny) Welbeck. It's okay, he has enough offensive players.

"But I have confidence because our team in the last game gave me much trust."

Trapattoni has hinted at a 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 formation against the Three Lions with Wes Hoolahan expected to be given an opportunity to shine from the outset but there are still doubts over who will lead the line with Robbie Keane only jetting in from America on Tuesday.

The LA Galaxy striker will no doubt need time to recover from his travels but is in fine form after scoring a hat-trick against Seattle Sounders on Sunday evening. Also expected to join the squad at their London Colney training base this morning are Darren O’Dea and Aiden McGeady who fly in from Canada and Russia respectively.

Hull’s Stephen Quinn has been rewarded for a fine season with a call-up for the injured Paul Green while Glenn Whelan and Marc Wilson are nursing calf strains and James McCarthy appeared to be carrying a hamstring complaint.

However, the veteran tactician is confident all three will be fit to take some part on Wednesday.

Republic of Ireland squad: Forde, Westwood, Randolph, O’Shea, St Ledger, Delaney R Keogh, Wilson, Coleman, Kelly, O’Dea, McShane, Dunne, Whelan, McCarthy, Quinn, Hendrick, McGeady, Pilkington, McClean, Brady, Meyler, A Keogh, Keane, Long, Sammon, Walters, Cox, Hoolahan.