Clark & Brady start as Trap names starting XI
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Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has included Ciaran Clark and Robbie Brady in his starting line-up for tomorrow's friendly with Greece but there is no place for Wes Hoolahan.
The 73-year-old Italian and his players will return to the Aviva Stadium for the first time since last month’s horror show against Germany.
However, when asked whether defeat to the side currently ranked 12th in the world would add yet more fuel to the calls for his head, Trapattoni replied: “I don’t think so.
“Our job always so. People forget the victories. In my life, what I have done until now, and now also with this team, is improve teams. That is the life of the manager.
“You can lose because of a referee’s mistake or because of another mistake.
“For us, it’s not a great problem. For me, it’s no great problem.”
The side shows six changes from the team that won comfortably in Torshavn three weeks ago with 23-year-old Ciaran Clark partnering captain John O’Shea at the heart of the Irish defence.
Once again the Italian tactician has opted for a 4-4-2 formation with James McCarthy and Glenn Whelan given the nod in central midfield while James McClean and on-loan Hull City winger Robbie Brady will operate the flanks.
Shane Long is given his opportunity to impress up front alongside Nottingham Forest striker Simon Cox but Wes Hoolahan has to settle for a place on the bench. However, Trapattoni indicated the Norwich playmaker will feature at some stage on Wednesday evening.
“In this friendly game, I want also to try one or two new players to find new energy, new players. They can help us also for the future.
“That is also our job, to discover other players. First is the result, and second is to try to discover also different players and give them the confidence,” he concluded.
