Soccer:Whether by accident or design Giovanni Trapattoni threw his first curve ball of the European Championships today when he named his first-choice central defensive pairing in the starting XI to face Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.
Both Richard Dunne and Sean St Ledger were, depending on which member of management you listened to, either very likely or almost definitely out of the running for the farewell game before the squad heads off to Italy for a training camp in Montecatini.
However, Trapattoni admitted himself today that he was under the impression he would be resting the centre halves. His mind was changed after a light-hearted session and a chat with the players.
"Today I was happy," said the Italian. "After the training. Before the training I said to them you must be very responsible because until yesterday there isn’t a reason to run the risk with them. They didn’t train. I have doubt about them playing but after a long warm-up this morning, after I spoke with them about the responsibility, they confirmed me they are very available and I saw them very well also in the game, the friendly game in training.
"I am happy now because I saw all the team. Also the other 11 or 12 in good condition. Good shape. Good attitude and they were happy. We did the training, with the joking, and I think we are ready for the European season."
Slightly more surprising, is the call to include standby player Paul McShane at right back, rather than the hitherto fit and ready Stephen Kelly. John O’Shea will not feature tomorrow, or so we’re told, in order to continue his recovery from the ankle injury that has hindered him since the last day of the Premier League season.
McShane was called into the squad on Wednesday as back-up for the doubtfuls in defence but yesterday Trapattoni said he would travel to Italy and Poland, and today he's preparing to start against Bosnia. The reason, it would seem, is to help his confidence and because he was preparing for that role in training, while Kelly was acting as understudy to Dunne before the u-turn.
“Because, until this morning I had doubt about Richard Dunne," explained Trapattoni. "Kelly had been used in the centre. He can play well right. He plays for his club well. Now I know after two or three months, I wish to see also again Paul in this position, give him confidence."
In midfield, there were another two calls that may pleasantly surprise some, with James McClean set to make his first start on the left and Darron Gibson preferred in front of Keith Andrews in the middle alongside Glenn Whelan. Damien Duff will man the right flank with the familiar strike pairing of captain Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle up front.
Gibson’s inclusion owes nothing to Andrews’s fitness, Trapattoni insisted. The West Brom man may well feature but, perhaps in a nod to the Derryman’s minutes on the pitch since a move to Everton, he has been afforded a chance to impress again on the international stage.
Trapattoni spoke encouragingly about what the former Manchester United midfielder and Keith Fahey, who may feature from the bench after shaking off a groin strain, can bring to his midfield. "Gibson, for us, can become very important for us. The players who play midfield they have a great job. Four games in midfield running, running, running, they need also change. Also (Keith) Fahey, he is good. We need these four. He sees the ball, the pass, shooting."
The manager reiterated his confidence that regular goalkeeper Shay Given will be fit at some stage next week, but, as expected, Sunderland's Keiren Westwood will start against Bosnia, who will provide a proper "test"
"We must pay 110 per cent attention," added Trapattoni, perhaps unfortunately proving that he's finally getting down with the lingo.
Republic of Ireland v Bosnia: K Westwood, P McShane, R Dunne, S St Ledger, S Ward; D Duff, D Gibson, G Whelan, J McClean; R Keane, K Doyle.
