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GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI FEELS that the Republic of Ireland’s qualification for the European Championships has been an emotional tonic at a very difficult time for the country.
Euro fever is expected to sweep the country this summer, with an estimated 20,000 Irish fans making plans to travel out to Poland in June for the group games against Croatia, Spain and Trapattoni’s native Italy.
The buzz of being part of a major tournament for the first time since the 2002 World Cup will give most people a welcome break from bad news, however briefly, and Trapattoni says that he and the players are delighted to have done their bit.
“Without a doubt, I’ve put myself into an Ireland that has been facing problems,” he told UEFA.com. “We also have some problems in Italy, but in this case here, we’re talking about Ireland.
They’ve said that the football team with Trapattoni has helped lifting a whole nation, and I have to say it’s been very emotional, because we’ve really lifted the nation.
Despite his success in getting the team this far, Trapattoni still has plenty of critics who find fault with his functional tactics, dismissing them as dour and negative.
But the Italian again showered praise on his system and his squad who, he says, were stretched to the limits of their ability to get out of a tough qualifying group.
“We don’t have those outstanding players like, for example, Spain or players like Messi or Ronaldo just to give you a few examples.
We’re a team; we’re a well-organised team, well-balanced and with a precise identity so we know how to play when we need to play and we know how to defend when we have to defend.I think that the modern game means achieving the maximum you can with what you have at your disposal, and I think we have achieved the maximum.
Looking beyond the summer, Trapattoni spoke of his excitement of leading the team through qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the sense of renewal which it gives him as a manager.
“Obviously it wasn’t easy but after everything we went through and achieving our objectives, I was convinced that there is a chance of a continuation in the future with all the new young players who become a second option and continue on this path.
“Forget the immediate past and propose a new one. The new challenge gives you motivation and new emotions and a new objective.”
