SOCCER:IF GIOVANNI Trapattoni is ever up round Glenties way, it might be worth popping in to visit a fellow pragmatist in Jim McGuinness. The conversation may need two Manuelas, but it's a fair bet they'd arrive at the same conclusions more often than not.
After the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin, the Donegal manager made a salient point that seemed to get lost in the hysterical criticism – his ultra cautious and defensive side was only beginning its cycle and their opponents on the day were some way into theirs.
McGuinness wasn’t denying the shortcomings of his side but he was suggesting there was more to come. 'Sure it’s ugly, but look where it got us and look where it can take us'.
Though he’s at a very different juncture in his career and nearing the end of his second campaign, Trapattoni sees things in very much the same light. He’s fobbed off all those negative waves over his tactics and stuck rigidly to the system that has depended, by his own admission yesterday, on more than its fair share of luck.
But being hard to beat is hard to beat, and with two games between his side and at least a play-off place for Euro 2012 he appears under no illusions as to where the FAI’s loyalty should lie come the end of this campaign when his contract expires.
The 72-year-old wants himself and his assistant Marco Tardelli to be allowed “finish” what they have started, regardless of whether they will be taking the squad to Poland and Ukraine next summer, and attempt to guide the team to the World Cup finals in Brazil in 2014. “The problem is I would like to finish this job because until now I think we have not yet changed all mentality, attitude, system,” he said at Dublin Airport’s Clarion Hotel yesterday.
While admitting there are always going to be unhappy substitutes, he said the squad “believe in me and believe in the situation”, while insisting he “can continue the evolution” of the likes of James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman, Greg Cunningham and Shane Long.
He accepts the decision cannot be made until after the next two games and he does not want it to overshadow crucial encounters with Andorra and Armenia in October, but time is of the essence as he claims he is likely to have other offers to consider.
“When FAI people and you (media) are convinced the job was good and we have possibility to grow again, I explain why I think we can grow again. We can speak.” He added: “Also, in the past people have rung me. I don’t want to meet people because always there is . . . the photographer. It’s not correct to keep a foot in both camps. [But] we can’t wait, wait, wait . . .”
The Italian claims to have had offers from one country “at war at the moment”, though he didn’t divulge where. Iraq recently appointed Brazilian great Zico as coach but, according to Trapattoni, a week after the call the country went “boom, boom, boom”, perhaps suggesting Colonel Gadafy may have been looking for him to bring his own Green Book to Libya.
Such an offer would be unlikely to tempt him, but he has also warned he has never been afraid to walk away on his own terms.
“I always interrupted or broke the contract, thank God it was never club or federation. Only I decide. In the future I think it could be the same.” He added: “I’ve changed a lot of teams, not only two or three. Milan, I changed, I had a great contract. I changed Juventus when I had a contract. I finished my time, but the president said ‘stay’. I changed in Germany, Bayern (Munich), with all due respect to Shamrock Rovers, it was Bayern. Beckenbauer said ‘stay’ also.
“I have a feeling whether it is finished or not,” he said, but he doesn’t seem to have that feeling now.
“We again have the position to improve this team because we have many young players and they wish to learn. It’s very important. I should be proud for us to continue and finish this process.”
Trapattoni has not yet discussed the issue with John Delaney, instead wishing to keep him “serene”. It might be too late. The association’s chief executive reacted to the draw in Moscow by once again throwing his tie to the travelling fans at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Trapattoni did not witness the carnival scenes, preferring instead to depart down the tunnel immediately after the final whistle, but on hearing about them he might just feel he’s that bit closer to getting his wish and finishing his cycle.
VIVA LOS ANGELES: Trapattoni mixes up Keane's new American domicile
A SLIP of the tongue led to Giovanni Trapattoni referring to Robbie Keane’s new home as Las Vegas rather than Los Angeles yesterday, and afforded a glimpse into the Italian’s psyche and why he plays by his rules, and his only.
Having admitted his side were “a little bit lucky” to escape from Moscow with a 0-0 draw “because Russia deserved to score”, he was then asked whether he might consider chancing his arm at the roulette table in Vegas himself.
“I think yesterday was not a joke,” he said. “St Patrick looked down on us. You can believe that in my life I never bet not on roulette or cards, because I begin football at 14 years old.
“I’ve had luck in my life. It’s impossible to ask for more by playing roulette. I have never played.
“I was also in Las Vegas on holiday.
“My friend said ‘Giovanni play the roulette’, but I couldn’t ask St Patrick or God for more luck.”
