Trap looks past Euro failure to ‘Mission Brazil’
One goal scored, eight goals conceded, zero points. That’s the sobering result for the Irish national team and their ‘Green Army’ of fans supported them in Poland, not to mention the millions back at home, at the conclusion of Ireland’s Euro 2012 campaign.
One day after the last group match against Italy, with Ireland’s fate already decided by a 4-0 loss to Spain, the team and their manager Giovanni Trapattoni returned to a disappointed Ireland, and a questioning media.
In a press conference, the Italian manager – who is contracted till the summer of 2014 – reminded his critics that qualification for Euro 2012 had been the main aim all along, and so he didn’t share the general sense of dismay.
Indeed, he said he is already looking forward to the qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, for which he plans to give his younger players a chance to gain more caps for the national team – though that move could be seen as a response to criticism by various soccer pundits during the group stage levelled at his managing style.
“Why do we have young talents like James McClean in our team if Trap doesn’t give them a chance?” asked former Arsenal player and RTÉ analyst Liam Brady.
The 73-year-old Italian said he is ready to adopt his ‘Mission Brazil’ once the FAI gives him its full confidence.
“The willingness is there to come back with fresh energy and a new squad to do better, and I can’t wait for the new season to start,” he said.
The decision will be made in the next few weeks, according to Trapattoni.
Meanwhile, on the morale of his current squad, the manager said: “Maybe at this moment they are disappointed and I will speak to them later. I understand their disappointment because we had hoped to do better, but tonight I have nothing to reproach the players for.”
