Beenhakker knows what to expect

BEFORE THE arrival of Giovanni Trapattoni on these shores, a vocal minority was passionately espousing a case for Leo Beenhakker to be appointed as Stephen Staunton's successor.

Instead, the Dutchman will be in the away dugout at Croke Park this evening looking to get the better of his "good friend" and boost morale after just two wins in his last eight games prompted murmurings of discontent in Poland - a nation where he could previously do no wrong.

Whether he could have produced the start to Ireland's qualifying campaign that Trapattoni has, is open for debate, but he is one of the few who could rival the Italian in the sound-bite stakes.

"We are more or less from the same generation," Beenhakker said of the Italian when addressing the huddled press underneath the Hogan Stand last night.

"You cannot see it because I am looking much better than him but we are from the same generation. Working so long in this game everybody knows everybody."

The Dutchman has been lauded as a mastercraftsman of international football management and a glance at his CV would appear to support the theory. He has been at Ajax, Real Madrid and managed Netherlands but his stock rose considerably when he guided Trinidad and Tobago to their first World Cup in 2006. He followed that by leading Poland to Euro 2008, topping Group A ahead of Portugal and Serbia.

Despite exiting at the earliest stage his contract was extended until the end of the World Cup qualifiers and his team find themselves second in Group Three, level with Slovenia and trailing leaders Slovakia by two points.

His side has so far only managed wins against San Marino and a Czech Republic side rapidly in decline, but that all came after the FAI's extensive search.

Surely then, given the three-man panel's determination to look under every stone, he was contacted by the FAI?

"No, no, no," he insists, waving away the suggestion.

Was he aware he had his admirers in these parts?

"If they talk about you, normally it is always good. Sometimes it is bad when they talk about you, but sometimes it's good. But no, I didn't know anything about it."

Though he and Trapattoni have never sat in opposing dugouts, the professional familiarity means he is aware of what to expect tonight in a game he hopes will offer good preparation for an upcoming World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland.

In praising Nigel Worthington's Northern Ireland side, he explained that the football in this part of the world has come a long way and it is no longer predictable.

On tonight's opponents, he said: "They try to play football the way you actually have to play it, so it is not the long ball and the fight for the second ball. No, he (Trapattoni) is always a guy who wants to play football using the midfield and it's nice to see it."

Nevertheless, he anticipates a "physical" approach and a passionate atmosphere, helped by a sizeable Polish contingent at Croke Park.

"It's a great stadium. Especially if it is filled with a lot of people and especially if a big lot of those people are Polish. Then I can guarantee it will be a great atmosphere."