WORDS: JOHN HYNES
Despite the poor results at Euro 2012, Irish fans had a great time in Poland. Now, as the Polish side come to Ireland to cement the relationships built between the nations, there are grumbles of discontent about the performances of Giovanni Trapattoni’s team. But can we justifiably expect any better?
Flights booked, semi-luxurious campsite sorted and 2002 World Cup shirt dug out of the wardrobe; I was ready for the trip to Poland and the Ukraine to watch Ireland compete in their first major tournament in a decade.
Then, what can only be described as a shit storm at work led to my withdrawal from what was sure to be a great trip. The daily arrival of pictures from my mates – damn mobile phones – and all the reports they provided on their return confirmed the Eastern European excursion had been exactly that.
No points, one goal and being comprehensively outplayed in all three games doesn’t sound great. For those Irish fans who travelled to the Euros though it was clearly a brilliant few weeks.
Since the summer results haven’t improved for Giovanni Trapattoni’s team, though. In fact they’ve become worse, a lot worse. Following a dreadful performance they somehow escaped from Kazakhstan with a 2-1 win before suffering a 6-1 mauling at the feet of Germany at home. Their only victories have come in a bizarre London-based friendly against Oman and away to the Faroe Islands.
Already hopes of reaching the World Cup in Brazil look slim. The discontent surrounding Trappatoni was clearly emphasised by the attendance of 16,256 for the team’s last outing of 2012, a 1-0 home defeat by Greece.
Every set of football fans possesses gripes, both genuine and fictional. But should us Ireland fans really expect more than what we have witnessed under the Italian? Apart from a brief and glorious six-year period between 1988-1994 the country has never been a major footballing power. Failure to reach tournaments has been the norm. I’m not saying we should just accept that, but I think we should possess realistic expectations because of it.
There is nothing wrong with being ambitious or wanting the country to do well, but a quick glance through the squad available to the manager should also temper any lofty notions. The players regularly called up play club football for sides such as LA Galaxy, Everton, Stoke City, Wigan or Sunderland. It’s true that Robbie Brady was at Manchester United, but he has recently been signed by Hull City.
Of the 20-plus group which Trapattoni announces prior to get-togethers only Aiden McGeady regularly participates in the Champions League. Until that changes we shouldn’t really expect any more. Instead we should look at reaching the most recent Euros as an achievement in itself. That’s probably the kind of talk that would furrow Roy Keane’s brow even further than Adrian Chiles’ attempts at being his mate. But, for me anyway, it beats the alternative of constantly moaning about how poor the team is, the manager’s tactics or his inability to speak coherent English.
And if we do, by some miracle, manage to make it to another tournament I’ll be going. Unfortunately such participation won’t come around too often.
Image: umbrofootball (via Flickr)