Il Trap nuovo ct dell'Irlanda??? update

L'avventura del Trap inizia con un pareggio in extremis contro la Serbia.

Fonte: Irish Independent

Keogh strikes late to give new manager light relief
Rep of Ireland 1 Serbia 1

Sunday May 25 2008

Perhaps things have begun to change. There was very little for Irish fans to get excited about for 90 minutes at Croke Park last night. Giovanni Trapattoni looked like he would start his Irish career with a defeat. Conceding devastating late goals has become an Irish curse but last night in Trapattoni's first game, Ireland scored one through substitute Andy Keogh. The manager, who emphasises the need to take something from every game, could be, if not happy, at least content.

In the end, Irish supporters were able to glimpse in person the two sides to Trapattoni's personality. First there was the anger when Ireland conceded and then came the boyish delight when Keogh volleyed in an injury-time equaliser at the end of a move which suggested intensive training-ground work.

Paul McShane had insisted during the week that he deserved to be in the Sunderland starting line-up, pointing out that he out-performs his club-mates in training. Unfortunately last night, he demonstrated that training only tells you so much, rashly charging out to play offside, a decision he seemed to have taken independently of his colleagues. Serbian substitute Marko Pantelic calmly exploited the space and finished coolly for the game's opening goal. Despite being in the game for fifty years, Trapattoni's expression suggested he had never seen anything like it.

The match had been overshadowed by former manager's Brian Kerr's allegations yesterday morning that players had broken a curfew during the training camp in Portugal. FAI sources insisted last night that there had been no curfew to break, although members of the squad had insisted in Portugal that there was.

Kerr also criticised the demeanour of assistant Liam Brady -- very much the FAI's man in the management team, although he has the full backing of Trapattoni -- and highlighted the need for the players to have the right kit.

The seemingly mundane issue of kit has been an emotive topic in Irish sport since Roy Keane went to war over it in 2002 but there were times last night when a conversation on the most aerodynamic fabric would have been more exciting than the game taking place.

Most of the Irish players had played very little football in the past three weeks and Trapattoni will hope that this was the reason for their poor control and technique. There were signs of the first attempts to introduce a more patient approach, but an inability of the midfield to control the ball ensured that these begun and ended among the back four.

Serbia, on the other hand, had plenty of technical ability and when they seemed bothered, they could knock the ball round Ireland. Led from left-back by Ivica Dragutinovic, the Sevilla defender outlined his class with an early run when he skipped away from Robbie Keane and Damien Duff.

Duff will be a key player for Ireland so it was important he showed signs of recovering from his long lay-off. He never appeared completely comfortable on the right and there were times when Trapattoni's desire that his players pass the ball rather than dribble seemed not to have been heard.

But he was involved in Ireland's only chance of the first half when he skipped down the right and his cross was headed towards goal by Slobodan Rajkovic. Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic scrambled back but could only palm the ball towards Keane. Ireland's captain hit a low left-foot shot on target but Rajkovic was now covering on the line.

It was Ireland's only moment of penetration. Set-pieces, an area which Trapattoni would be expected to exploit, were poor until Keogh took his late chance

Serbia are always prepared to play hard and Danko Lazovic was booked for a two-footed tackle on Stephen Kelly. Lazovic had been a more legitimate source of trouble throughout the half, knocking Richard Dunne off the ball when the Manchester City defender was grateful for the covering tackle of Kelly.

Debutant Damien Delaney struggled defensively at time when the Serbs swept forward down the right but there were few among his more experienced team-mates who could be said to have excelled.

The first half couldn't end fast enough and the half-time match between children from the FAI summer schools provided more excitement. In the second half, Duff moved to the left and made a difference but the Serbs were coming more into the game. Stefan Babovic put the ball across the goal but McShane knocked wide for a corner.

Ireland also had their opportunities, with Duff earning a corner after Glenn Whelan picked him out with a ball which allowed him to run and shoot down the right. Trapattoni saw no need to change things for the first hour, perhaps an indication of the value he places in a clean sheet above all else, while Nemanja Vidic remained on the bench for Serbia, happily signing autographs.

With 20 minutes to go, Keane was replaced by Daryl Murphy. Ireland had now switched to a 4-3-3 with Murphy and Duff supporting Doyle. Back on the right, Duff again ran positively before wasting the final ball. But that will not have angered Trapattoni as much as the Serbian goal. With Dragutinovic on the ball in his own half, McShane took the unilateral decision to rush from the centre of defence and play offside. Unfortunately he didn't bring his back four with him so it was an easy pass through the middle for Dragutinovic and an even easier finish for Pantelic.

As Ireland chased the game, there was less and less evidence of Trapattoni's desire for more passing, less dribbling as individuals tried to win the game. But the equaliser came from teamwork. Delaney took a throw, Murphy flicked it on and Keogh, who has earned Trapattoni's praise all week, hit the ball sweetly into the net. The bench erupted with joy. Under Giovanni Trapattoni, it seems, Ireland won't be playing friendlies.

Rep of Ireland: Kiely, Kelly, Dunne, McShane, Delaney, Duff, Miller, Whelan, Hunt (Keogh 81), Keane (Daryl Murphy 70), Doyle (Long 86). Subs Not Used: Joe Murphy, O'Shea, McPhail, Scannell, Foley, Hoolahan, Westwood, Bruce, Garvan.

Serbia: Stojkovic, Rukavina, Ivanovic, Rajkovic, Dragutinovic, Lola (Kovacevic 90), Kuzmanovic, Jankovic, Babovic (Markovic 81), Ilic (Kacar 86), Lazovic (Pantelic 70). Subs Not Used: Kahriman, Kolarov, Vidic, Zigic, Despotovic. Booked: Lazovic, Kuzmanovic, Ivanovic, Dragutinovic.

Ref: Lee Evans (Wales).