The Republic of Ireland don’t do entertaining football, but if they did it would probably be the most calamitious brand on the world stage.
That is not to suggest that Giovanni Trapattoni’s team attempt to play free-flowing football. Instead, they adopt a disciplined approach that is designed to stop the opposition and scrap for what they can.
Far from being negative, it is simply the best approach that an experienced manager believes his limited side are capable of producing. Entertaining football just doesn’t suit Ireland.
So it was of little surprise that the opening match of the Carling Nations Cup failed to excite a half-empty Aviva Stadium. The football on show from both Ireland and Wales was bland, unimaginative and not what the tournament organisers had expected.
Despite the lack of entertainment, Trapattoni would have learned a lot more about his team as he turns his focus towards next month’s must-win Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia. For example, he now knows that Seamus Coleman and Ciaran Clark are real options for his starting XI, Darron Gibson shouldn’t start in centre midfield and Sean St Ledger is an accident waiting to happen in the heart of the defence.
After disappointing displays against Russia, Slovakia and Norway, the Irish team needed to show some signs that they had learned from their mistakes. Although their full-time report card after this 3-0 win should read: Capble of achieving impressive results, but lack of concentration and belief is proving critical.
The good news for Trapattoni is that there is no need for major surgery. He has the backbone of a good international side with some decent back-up players to call on. It is just about getting those players to trust each other and making the most of possession.
A few tweaks in personnel are needed with St Ledger’s place at centre-back surely in doubt. The Preston North End defender rushes into challenges without thinking, makes poor decisions and insists on launching long balls forward even when he is not under pressure. There are more assured candidates to partner Richard Dunne at the back, like John O’Shea or Clark.
In midfield, the search is still on to find someone to accompany Glenn Whelan. Not since Steven Reid played alongside the Stoke City man have Ireland had a central pairing that compliment each other. Gibson is clearly not that person despite his excellent finish. The 23-year-old does not contribute enough, link play as well as he should or offer the type of defensive qualities that the position demands.
On the plus side, both Clark and Coleman impressed on their senior debuts. The former was rarely troubled at left-back, while the latter provided an attacking threat with his gut-busting runs and delivery from the right wing. Both have given the Irish boss something to consider.
The other player to make the most of the tournament opener was Stoke’s Jonathan Walters. Whether he was peeling off his marker to make runs down the channels, dropping deep to link play or getting into the opposition’s penalty area at the right time, the former Ipswich Town forward excelled.
Even though the game ended with a 3-0 win for the hosts, don’t be fooled by the scoreline. They are not the type of team that will inflict the same result on better opposition and the three goals, while all well executed, falsely suggest that this may have been an entertaining encounter.
But it doesn’t matter if Ireland entertain or not. As long as they learn how to win games and continue to improve then Trapattoni is leading them in the right direction. Just don’t expect any fireworks or total football.