The Italian Job
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After the disappointing 1-1 draw with Bulgaria at Croke Park, all eyes now turn to Wednesday’s showdown clash with World Cup winners Italy. The Italians recorded an impressive two-nil win in Montenegro on Saturday night thanks to goals from Andrea Pirlo and debutant Giampaolo Pazzini to take charge of group eight.
A good result in Bari may be a tall ask for the boys in green but extratime.ie looks at three reasons why Irish fans could be smiling after the final whistle blows in the Stadio San Nicola.
1 ) Injured strikers
Marcello Lippi will be forced into a rethink before Wednesday’s game in Bari after Antonio Di Natale, Alberto Gillardino and Luca Toni were all ruled out of the game against Ireland. The trio have all featured for the Azzurri in the qualifying campaign and between them, varying on whether or not they play a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3, are all regular starters.
Between them all they have scored 36 league goals for their clubs this season and the loss will be a big blow for the Italians. Fabio Quagliarella, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Simone Pepe will probably step in to lead the line. Although it still remains a formidable and very dangerous trio, between them they have only managed four international goals so far.
There is no doubt that Ireland do have a lot of areas where they have to improve on after the draw with Bulgaria, but the central pairing of Richard Dunne and John O’Shea is tough and wont give the Italians an easy time.
2) Fabio Cannavaro
Make no mistake about it, the Real Madrid central defender is a modern day legend of the game. Nothing can take away from his achievements; World Cup winning captain, World Player of the Year, Ballon d’Or winner and a two time La Liga winner.
Despite his glittering career, though, anyone who watched Liverpool’s 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid will have seen that the great defender isn’t anything like the player we saw lead Italy to the World Cup in 2006. Unfortunately Ireland don’t have players like Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard but as the Liverpool duo showed, Cannavaro’s age has caught up with him. He had a nightmare that night and was also lucky on Saturday in Podgorica not to receive a red card for a cynical tackle when he was exposed once again by pace.
If Ireland can get the ball to Keane and Doyle’s feet then they will give the Italian captain real problems. Another factor is that although he is impressive in the air he is only 5’9” so Doyle should get some joy in the air.
3) Giovanni Trapattoni
It was clear to everyone what was missing against Bulgaria on Saturday. The manager must put the personal issues that he has with everyone’s favourite midfielder/guitarist Andy Reid to one side and do what’s best for the team. Ireland are adopting the Italian “catenaccio" style of football that Trapattoni so adheres to, but I ask is it working?
We have to be honest and admit that we have a very limited pool of quality players to choose from and we simply can’t do without having the creative duo of Stephen Ireland and Reid among the panel. This argument is for another day.
What is not in dispute is Trapattoni’s knowledge of the Italian team and their coach. This could prove to be invaluable on Wednesday night. Trap was of course at the helm of the Italian team before Lippi took charge. He lost his job after disappointing campaigns in the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. He will know this Italy team inside out, both strengths and weaknesses.
Three players in the eleven that started his last game in charge of the Azzurri against Bulgaria in Euro 2004 also played in Saturday’s game against Montenegro. Buffon, Zambrotta, and Pirlo. He will know exactly how to engineer a result in Bari. The manager will also have the Irish team well drilled and set up against the Italians, as he has a point to prove to his Italian critics who slated him for failing to guide Italy past the last 16 in both competitions he was in charge for.
Having scraped out of Group G in 2002 thanks to a late Del Piero goal against Mexico, Italy under Trappatoni were then knocked out by the hosts and eventual semi-finalists South Korea. A goal two minutes from time forced extra-time with the winner coming three minutes before the end.
In Portugal in '04, Italy were unbeaten but defensively minded as they were knocked out on goal difference in the group stages. A lack of adventure and stifling tactics were the main arguments against his tenure in charge of the Azzuri. Sounds familiar.
A good result in Bari may be a tall ask for the boys in green but extratime.ie looks at three reasons why Irish fans could be smiling after the final whistle blows in the Stadio San Nicola.
1 ) Injured strikers
Marcello Lippi will be forced into a rethink before Wednesday’s game in Bari after Antonio Di Natale, Alberto Gillardino and Luca Toni were all ruled out of the game against Ireland. The trio have all featured for the Azzurri in the qualifying campaign and between them, varying on whether or not they play a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3, are all regular starters.
Between them all they have scored 36 league goals for their clubs this season and the loss will be a big blow for the Italians. Fabio Quagliarella, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Simone Pepe will probably step in to lead the line. Although it still remains a formidable and very dangerous trio, between them they have only managed four international goals so far.
There is no doubt that Ireland do have a lot of areas where they have to improve on after the draw with Bulgaria, but the central pairing of Richard Dunne and John O’Shea is tough and wont give the Italians an easy time.
2) Fabio Cannavaro
Make no mistake about it, the Real Madrid central defender is a modern day legend of the game. Nothing can take away from his achievements; World Cup winning captain, World Player of the Year, Ballon d’Or winner and a two time La Liga winner.
Despite his glittering career, though, anyone who watched Liverpool’s 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid will have seen that the great defender isn’t anything like the player we saw lead Italy to the World Cup in 2006. Unfortunately Ireland don’t have players like Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard but as the Liverpool duo showed, Cannavaro’s age has caught up with him. He had a nightmare that night and was also lucky on Saturday in Podgorica not to receive a red card for a cynical tackle when he was exposed once again by pace.
If Ireland can get the ball to Keane and Doyle’s feet then they will give the Italian captain real problems. Another factor is that although he is impressive in the air he is only 5’9” so Doyle should get some joy in the air.
3) Giovanni Trapattoni
It was clear to everyone what was missing against Bulgaria on Saturday. The manager must put the personal issues that he has with everyone’s favourite midfielder/guitarist Andy Reid to one side and do what’s best for the team. Ireland are adopting the Italian “catenaccio" style of football that Trapattoni so adheres to, but I ask is it working?
We have to be honest and admit that we have a very limited pool of quality players to choose from and we simply can’t do without having the creative duo of Stephen Ireland and Reid among the panel. This argument is for another day.
What is not in dispute is Trapattoni’s knowledge of the Italian team and their coach. This could prove to be invaluable on Wednesday night. Trap was of course at the helm of the Italian team before Lippi took charge. He lost his job after disappointing campaigns in the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. He will know this Italy team inside out, both strengths and weaknesses.
Three players in the eleven that started his last game in charge of the Azzurri against Bulgaria in Euro 2004 also played in Saturday’s game against Montenegro. Buffon, Zambrotta, and Pirlo. He will know exactly how to engineer a result in Bari. The manager will also have the Irish team well drilled and set up against the Italians, as he has a point to prove to his Italian critics who slated him for failing to guide Italy past the last 16 in both competitions he was in charge for.
Having scraped out of Group G in 2002 thanks to a late Del Piero goal against Mexico, Italy under Trappatoni were then knocked out by the hosts and eventual semi-finalists South Korea. A goal two minutes from time forced extra-time with the winner coming three minutes before the end.
In Portugal in '04, Italy were unbeaten but defensively minded as they were knocked out on goal difference in the group stages. A lack of adventure and stifling tactics were the main arguments against his tenure in charge of the Azzuri. Sounds familiar.
