Keane still believes

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has conducted his eve-of-match press conference ahead of the do-or-die game with Spain.

 

Before opening the conference to the floor, the 73 year old Italian made a speech in his own words.  He said:  ”I think psychologically we have overcome the defeat against Croatia.  Yesterday in training, I saw the same enthusiasm as before.   Spain is a team that is technical.  It will be very important not to give them much space, particularly in midfield.  They are very good at passing and pass the ball very fast.  I am thinking about the best solution for us. Our objective is to be offensive but at the same time, we need also to find a way to help the midfield, because there is a danger we could be over run.  After training, I can clarify our situation psychologically and physically.” The Italian went on to state that he would not name his starting lineup for Thursday’s match with the reigning World and European champions.

 

This was a stark contrast to his tactics prior to his team’s opening match of the tournament with Croatia, where he named his starting XI several days in advance of the game.  The Italian stated however that he  ”did not regret naming his team so soon in advance of that match with Croatia”  and there would be only  ”one or two changes and not five or six”  from the team which started against the former Yugoslav state.

 

The man born on St. Patrick’s Day was asked whether he would allow the Spanish to have the Gdansk PGE Arena pitch watered so as to facilitate their slick passing game before the start of Thursday’s match to which he replied:  ”I have seen the weather forecast for tomorrow and it says that it will rain!!  It could be wrong, but in Ireland, we are used to the rain.  There will not be a problem for us if it rains and the pitch is wet.” The manager was asked if, as the most experienced manager at the tournament, was there any more he could could learn.  He replied by stating:   “This is football, there is always something you can learn.  We need to look at the small details.  When goals go in, that is how games change.  I look at dvd’s all the time and in every game, I see small details which change the game.”

 

Questioning then turned to captain Robbie Keane who was told that some games are more important than others and that this is not  ”just another match.”  He was asked what he would do if he could get inside the other Irish players’ heads, to which the Tallaght native replied:   “We know it’s going to be tough.   We’re not daft.  We’re going to do exactly what we’ve been doing the last few years.  Probably everybody here has said that we are going to lose and as captain I’m going to make sure that I don’t go into this game thinking we can’t win.  It’s 90 minutes, it’s eleven against eleven.  We can win.  I have never gone into a match thinking I couldn’t win it.” The nation’s all-time leading goalscorer went on to refute the claim that stage fright might had been an issue for Ireland during the opening game 3-1 defeat to Croatia.  The 31 year-old said that he felt the timing of the goals  ’killed’  Ireland and the penalty decision which Ireland didn’t get was crucial and could  ”easily have changed the game.”

 

Upon being informed that Ireland are 11/1 with bookmakers to win the match with Spain and asked if he had ever been such an outsider for a match, Trapattoni replied:   “I am proud to be Irish manager, because we achieve the result with heart.  There are other more creative teams such as Spain and Italy.  Football is not all about creativity.  It is also about balance and of course, luck.  Against Croatia, we did not have luck.  I think we have a good attitude, mentality and commitment.  I think also that we can win.”