IRELAND’S FOOTBALL FANS may be expecting a long night at Lansdowne Rd this Friday night, but Marco Tardelli says Ireland are confident of upsetting Germany.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s assistant manager insists his side won’t just play for a draw in the crucial World Cup qualifier.
Ireland have been hit with a series of injuries ahead of the Dublin clash and it would be understandable if Giovanni Trapattoni’s team set out to frustrate the Germans rather than risk a heavy defeat by going on the attack against one of the best teams in Europe.
Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger, Glenn Whelan, James McClean and Kevin Doyle have all been ruled out and Shay Given and Damien Duff are absent having announced their retirements from international football.
Joachim Loew’s side are currently in second place in FIFA’s world rankings and are heavy favourites to win Group C. But Tardelli is adamant the hosts will go for the victory at Lansdowne Road.
“We will try to win, it’s normal for us,” he said on Tuesday. “If we can win against Germany, it will be important for the team and for the country.
“A draw? I don’t know. It is better to wait and see. The Germans are a strong team, they are very quick and they play very well with their wingers because they cut in with their strikers. We know that Germany is a very good team and we have many problems, but we need to believe it’s possible to play against all teams.”
Tardelli also confirmed that Trapattoni is likely to field a three-man midfield against the Germans in a bid to combat the threat of Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil.
“We put three midfielders on the pitch and one midfielder is for Ozil,” Tardelli said. ”We need to change something against Germany because the Germans are a very strong team and play 4-3-3. Maybe it’s possible to play 4-3-3.”
