Irish soccer manager Giovanni Trapattoni will have no easy task next summer when his squad of players head to the Uefa European Championships in Poland and Ukraine. Having attended the draw on 6 December in Kiev, it became clear the enormous task that lies ahead for Ireland if they are to come away from the tournament with any fond memories.
Ireland were the first team to be placed in Group C, in which we were joined by World Cup and European Championship holders Spain, 2006 World Cup winners Italy, and finally Croatia – who boast the much sought-after Luka Modric in their line-up.
Reflecting after the draw, Trapattoni said: “I wanted to avoid Italy because they are strong mentally and because we know each other. We knew we had to face strong opponents and I hope we don’t do ourselves harm and that we get to 18 June in a calm way.
“We know our position in the rankings,” he continued. “We know we have to play with another mentality. Spain are famous. They won the World Cup. But everything is possible.”
Ireland and Italy are acquainted due to meeting in the qualifying group for the last World Cup. Both matches ended in a draw, with the Irish arguably the better side over the two games.
Come kick-off next summer, it will be 28 years since Ireland met Spain in a competitive European tie and 40 years since an Italian encounter in the same competition. The Green Army never tasted victory during those early years, but have faired a lot better on the big stage at the World Cup.
In South Korea and Japan in 2002, Ireland and Spain met in the final 16. A late penalty scored by Robbie Keane forced the game into extra-time and eventually to a penalty shoot-out, which the Spaniards won 3-2.
Ireland’s debut World Cup adventure at Italia ’90 took them to the quarter-finals and a clash with the host nation in Rome. A gallant performance ended in a 1-0 defeat when Salvatore Schillaci scored the winner after 38 minutes.
Ireland gained some retribution four years later at USA ’94 when a determined Irish team met Italy once again, this time in their opening game. Ray Houghton scored in the eleventh minute – and it proved to be a memorable winning goal. It was the only defeat at the tournament during play for the Italians, as they were beaten in a penalty shoot-out by Brazil in the final.
Trapattoni was recently named Philips Sports Manager of the Year, an honour previously held by Jack Charlton for three years in a row from 1987 to 1989. The Italian’s true love and passion for the game is very evident.
He said: “I have done this job all over the world in different countries: Italy, Germany, Austria and Portugal, now with Ireland. I really love my job and it will give me huge satisfaction to take Ireland to a finals.
“It shows that when you are really well organised and have real self-belief you can do it, even with smaller countries.”
He concluded: “Everybody on the Irish team is looking forward to bringing our football and our style to the tournament. For me it is not about what I have done in the past, and I have done a lot, but about what the future will bring.”
