IRELAND HOST SWEDEN in a must-not-lose World Cup qualifier tomorrow night at the Aviva Stadium with Giovanni Trapattoni likely to stick with his tried and trusted formation and personnel.
The starting 11 practically picks itself this week due to recent injuries and the Italian’s ‘favourites’ who are likely to occupy their regular positions as part of a rigid 4-4-2 set-up.
The following players need to perform to their optimum level on a night the Republic simply cannot countenance defeat as Sweden, ourselves and the Austrians are currently tied on 11 points each in second place behind Group C leaders Germany.
Any slip-ups could prove fatal in the coming days so here are five players who need to shine against the Swedes.
James McCarthy
The newly-signed Everton midfielder got the transfer his career badly needed and a return to the Premier League will certainly improve the youngster’s sharpness between now and the end of Ireland’s qualification schedule. Roberto Martinez is clearly a fan of the former Hamilton Academicals player who flourished under the Spaniard before moving to Goodison Park right at the death of the recent transfer window.
McCarthy’s place in Giovanni Trapattoni’s starting XI was already assured and the solid partnership he has built up with Glen Whelan will be hugely important to Ireland’s qualification hopes in the coming months. With Whelan backing him up, McCarthy can control the tempo in the centre of the park and make enough space to provide the ammunition for Long and Keane giving Ireland every chance of pulling off a badly needed victory.
Richard Dunne
The QPR centre-back looks likely to feature in the heart of the Irish defence alongside John O’Shea despite not having seen competitive international action since Ireland ignominiously bowed out of Euro 2012. A persistent long-term injury curtailed Dunne’s first team opportunities until Harry Redknapp came calling and the move to Loftus Road has presented Dunne with first team football and badly needed game time ahead of Friday night’s crucial qualifier.
Regular football has seen Dunne’s match sharpness return (albeit in the Championship) but Trapattoni needs his most experienced defender to partner O’Shea and curb the attacking threat of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. If Dunne can reproduce anything like his heroic individual display in Moscow then Ireland are well capable of keeping a clean sheet and increasing their chances of success against both Sweden and Austria.
Shane Long
In contrast to his international team mate James McCarthy, Shane Long had a transfer window to forget with a proposed move to Hull City falling through at the eleventh hour. The Tipperary native will be anxious to put a frustrating week behind him and also to get back on the score-sheet following West Brom’s poor start to the new Premier League season.
Long has netted 9 times in 37 appearances for Ireland including a recent strike against England at Wembley. The former Reading hit man has built up an excellent understanding with Robbie Keane at international level but will need all his experience against a Swedish defence that has only conceded 7 goals in the qualifiers thus far. Long’s intelligent movement and distribution with his back to goal makes him a crucial element within Trapattoni’s setup. The 26-year old is more than capable of capitalising on Sweden’s close marking of Robbie Keane and evading their attention long enough to nick a goal.
Shane Long has an opportunity to put a frustrating month behind him and here’s hoping he hits the net on Friday night and carries that form into next week’s away trip to Austria.
Seamus Coleman
The Donegal right-back’s stellar individual displays in the opening Premier League fixtures of the new campaign are one of the few positives Everton manager Roberto Martinez has been able to take after three consecutive draws. “Seamus is still a young man in football terms and at such a young age, he’s just going to develop and get better and stronger. It’s great to see players have used the pre-season well and are making that impact from the start” said Martinez following Coleman’s excellent start.
Coleman has become not alone a resolute defender for the Toffees but also an attacking weapon in tandem with left-back Leighton Baines on the opposite wing. His lightening pace has permitted numerous forays forward in Everton colours drawing praise from Sky Sports and former England international Gary Neville. Giovanni Trapattoni is unlikely to permit Coleman the same freedom he enjoys playing for his Merseyside club but hopefully the 24-year old will get the chance to break deep into Swedish territory and cause havoc similar to his eye-catching display in the 0-0 draw in Solna earlier this year.
David Forde
The Millwall shot-stopper has had a year to remember including a terrific display between the sticks that ensured Ireland secured a merited 0-0 draw away to the Sweden prior to an eye-catching performance at Wembley in the recent friendly against England.
Keeping a clean sheet against Sweden will be vital on Friday night especially after conceding that late David Alaba goal to Austria and shipping six on a nightmare evening to the Germans back in October. Since then, morale-boosting wins over the Faroe Islands and Georgia has restored much needed confidence to the Irish defence and a fully fit David Forde will ensure Ireland face Sweden with their first choice defensive unit.
Question marks over the former Derry City goalkeeper’s fitness appear to have been answered in Malahide earlier this week and Trapattoni will hope Forde can reproduce the display which earned Ireland a crucial point away to the Swedes with another commanding performance between the sticks.
Follow Ger on Twitter: @germccarthy74
