What they are saying about the Irish
Credit:
As the competition draws ever closer and the cautious optimism generated by the Bosnia result has been slightly tempered by the less impressive performance against the Hungarians we thought it might be a good time to see what some of the main players in the media and among the opposition have to say about our chances at Euro 2012.
It won’t surprise anyone who has watched this Irish team over Giovanni Trapattoni’s reign to find that words such as spirit, competitiveness and organisation were liberally sprinkled throughout. There is however a grudging respect that shines through for the way the Italian has once again brought success to a team, even if it’s never going to please the aesthetes among them.
Croatia’s manager, Slaven Bilic, watched Ireland struggle in Budapest with a strange half smile playing on his lips, as though someone was telling him a funny but slightly inappropriate joke, and skirted the fine line between praise and patronisation with some aplomb.
"I have big respect for Ireland - I played against them last summer. They're an unbelievably competitive team", Bilic was quoted as saying on Fifa's website.
"They are very solid, they play very simple football, and they don't take a lot of risks. But they are still dangerous enough with some really good forwards - two strikers and two wide men who are very quick. One on one, they can decide a game."
Luka Modric was also wary of the Irish threat saying: "The Irish are a fanatical football nation and they have a very good team with many experienced Premier League players.”
The Italians need no introduction to their former manager and one gets the impression that they are extremely nervous that Ireland may be the rock that the Azzurri, already reeling from the match-fixing scandal in Serie A, could flounder upon.
Caesare Prandelli was fulsome in his praise (as well as sounding really quite scared!) at the thought of taking on the boys in green when interviewed by World Soccer.
“I don’t even want to name him (Trapattoni) or it will bring me bad luck! As soon as you mention his name, he pops up to lay some sort of trap for you! In truth, though, it will be an honour and a pleasure to meet Ireland ....... Trap’s Ireland will make everyone struggle, us included. We have to start off with that in mind otherwise the game will be very, very difficult. Trap will be a very awkward customer, absolutely”.
Ireland’s other opponents in Group C are World and European champions, Spain, who will be favourites to qualify from the group. Vicente Del Bosque expects a tough encounter against a “complicated” Irish team.
“....Ireland have a strong personality, character and an excellent team regardless of the experience of their manager Giovanni Trapattoni. They will be a complicated team; we know how strong they are because of how well they got through their play-off.”
The world’s media has also cast its eye over the Irish team with most concluding, with varying degrees of pessimism, that Ireland will struggle in the elevated company of an international tournament.
Raphael Honigstein, writing in Sports Illustrated is one of the more optimistic of the reviewers:
Sports Illustrated
Key Quote: General consensus suggests that Ireland must win their first game against Croatia to stand a realistic chance at making it to the quarters.
Key Players: Robbie Keane, Aiden McGeady, Shane Long.
Prediction: In a tournament that will be peppered with dodgy defences, Ireland -- despite its long odds -- could have the makings of a surprise contender.
The Guardian
Key Quote: Luck played a part in reaching the finals but so did discipline and doggedness.
Key Player: Richard Dunne
The Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni has fostered formidable spirit and organisation but refuses to modify tactics even when his team are being outplayed.
BBC
Key Quote: After watching his side clinch qualification, the wily Italian suggested his side could emulate Greece's surprise victory at Euro 2004. It may have been a tongue-in-cheek remark, but 'Trap' is certainly overdue some luck at a major international tournament.
Key Players: Robbie Keane, Aidan McGeady
The Coach: 'Trap' began coaching 37 years ago, before any of the Irish squad were even born. His CV reads like a who's who of European football - AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Benfica.
Betfair
Key Quote: This is a team that may be short on brilliance, but has to be respected.
Key Players: Robbie Keane, Shay Given, James McClean
The Coach: I wonder if the rapid turnover of major tournaments suits his cerebral style. Expect safety first football and inscrutable press conferences, Jack Charlton with bells on.
Prediction: It's too much of a leap of faith to back them at 20.0 (19/1) to win the group, but the price to qualify (4/1) is too big, plain and simple, and I can't let them go unbacked.
New York Times
Key Quote: Robbie Keane, the only player from major league soccer in the tournament, hasn’t been in the best form lately but his sunny disposition, the wiles of his coach, Giovanni Trapattoni, and the team’s spirit could see them through to the knock-out stages.
Melbourne Herald Sun
Key Quote: This will be a fitting swansong from international football for a generation of Irish players.
Key Player: Robbie Keane
Prediction: Advancing from the group will be a challenge too far.
Xinhuanet.com (Chinese English news site)
Key Quote: Giovanni Trapattoni's side may not have the glamour of their rivals and may contain some players from the second tier of the English leagues, but with an experienced defence and a fine goalkeeper in Shay Given, they are capable of springing a surprise.
Prediction: It's unlikely that Ireland will make it out of the group, but over 90 minutes they could well decide which sides do make it into the quarter-final stage...and which side falls by the wayside.
