Reuters Soccer Blog

Qualification covers cracks as Irish dare to dream

By Phil O’Connor

Those who arrived late to the Republic of Ireland’s party in Dublin could be forgiven for wondering what was going on as 10 years of hurt were banished and Euro 2012 qualification was assured.

Ten years to the day after they last secured qualification for a major tournament (beating Iran in a playoff to make the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea), the Irish rounded off a resounding 5-1 aggregate victory over Estonia to book their place at Euro 2012.

As with any celebration, it would have been rude to point out that the hosts had not exactly shone during qualifying as they struggled against sides from both ends of the table.

Dismantled at home by a technically superior Russia, they struggled before finally overcoming the group’s supposed weaker sides, Macedonia and Andorra.

The Irish simply never looked comfortable on the ball during the whole campaign, appearing much more organised when defending.

Captain Robbie Keane may have scored seven goals in the campaign, but he has been criticised for needing too many chances to get on the scoresheet.

The luck of the Irish continues

It may prove difficult to switch a nation’s sporting focus from rugby to football, especially one that is basking in the glory of a first rugby grand slam in 61 years, but a wave of good fortune is boosting hopes of Ireland featuring at the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

Guided by the mercurial talents of Italian Giovanni Trapattoni, the Irish have made a solid, undefeated start to a tricky qualifying group containing World champions Italy, Dimitar Berbatov’s Bulgaria, Cyprus – who beat them 5-2 in Euro 2008 qualifying - and a skilful Montenegro.

Optimism of a first appearance in a major finals since 2002 is growing but in earning their second place position, behind the Italians only on goal difference, a number of fortuitous moments have occurred.

Firstly they managed to avoid playing Georgia in their difficult Tbilisi home venue because of the war with Russia. They instead played in Mainz, Germany which seemed liked a home game for the Irish with the number of supporters they had to cheer a 2-1 victory.

Then Cypriot striker Efstathios Aloneftis, identified by Trapattoni as the dangerman ahead of their clash in Dublin in October, injured himself in the warm-up and missed the 1-0 defeat by the home side.

Patience a virtue that would have suited Robbie Keane

Rafa Benitez is often described as a master tactician but when it comes to man-management it can be hard to fathom what the Liverpool boss is up to.

Last July the Spaniard apparently considered Robbie Keane to be worth 20 million pounds. Six months later the prolific Ireland striker was not deemed good enough even for the bench in Sunday’s FA Cup game against Everton – just the sort of fixture that would suit the hard-running Irishman.

Still only 28, Keane has scored goals and given his all wherever he has played – including 35 in 85 internationals.

Last season he scored 23 goals for Spurs, and that while fighting for a starting role alongside Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov, and he was voted the club’s player of the year three times.

All three strikers left Spurs in the close-season and Berbatov initially struggled to justify his huge fee at Manchester United.

Alex Ferguson did not panic, knowing that he had a special player on his hands and that it was up to the manager and the rest of the squad to find a way to bring the best out of him. (more…)