by Leighton Cullen
It is possible to look at the Ireland v Germany match in two distinctly different ways. One with full praise to Loew’s potent team who, on this form, look as devastating and impressive as any around. The other is to stare disheartened into the bleak future of Irish football as its hauled back to the stone age under Trapattoni.
The game itself was a masterclass of German passing, movement and brilliant link up play all complete with clinical finishing. For any young Irish promise in the stadium from the usual splattering of schoolkids and regional junior sides given complimentary tickets at such international fixtures it amounted to an invaluable education.
For the promise that Ireland hold dear at present – the likes of McCarthy and Coleman who were given rare starts due to a multitude of absentees through injury – the same could be said on the pitch. They were lambs to the slaughter but the consolation is that they will learn from this harshest of lessons.
That is assuming – hoping – that the group mentality is strong enough to withstand such a humiliating drubbing. Heads visibly dropped. The team lacked leadership and heart. I cannot recall my country ever being so thoroughly dismantled on home soil and despite the German excellence it was the poorness of the Irish performance that disappointed most of all.
As for Trap the same charges are put to him once again. What was he thinking? Why doesn’t he attend games to monitor his player’s league form? Why does he consistently – and stubbornly – overlook Premier League talent for his favoured few?
The frustration at these failings are always prominent but after Friday’s shambles they are now crossing streams and gaining strength and will now surely lead to the 73 year old Italian not seeing out the qualifying campaign. Which will be a blessing for so many reasons not least the fact that our slender pool of options will immediately widen. Trapatonni has fallen out with so many players during his tenure and often in spectacular ways. There is Kevin Foley who got dumped out of the Euro 2012 squad for Paul McShane and has since declared never to play for Trap again. Then there’s Darron Gibson who declared similar after being over-looked at the Euros for Paul Green. Marc Wilson and Ciaran Clark meanwhile have both fallen out with the manager and have just started to be included in squads again. Finally the biggest avoidable alienation is the treatment dished out to Shane Long. Long is the in-form Irish striker yet – and you can see a pattern forming here – fell out with Trap and has since seen the inferior Simon Cox used in his place.
The fans has lost faith and no matter who you talk to the opinion is the same – Trap has to go. He is killing Irish football and bringing it back to the dark days; even more morose than under Steve Staunton who at least tried to play football and pass it about. Now its just a killer to watch Ireland play against any major team and although Rio is a long way away, both in distance and time, going on this performance the 2014 World Cup may as well be hosted on the moon as far as Ireland are concerned.
