EMMET MALONEtalks to Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given who is inspired and excited by the challenge of facing the world champions
HE MIGHT have turned 70 a couple of weeks back but it’s hard to imagine Giovanni Trapattoni ever citing his age in a remotely negative way. Shay Given, on the other hand, cheerily blames it when asked if his light training schedule since Saturday’s draw at Croke Park suggests he is still a doubt for tomorrow’s game here in Bari. “Nah,” he says with a smile, “I’m fine, just getting on a bit. I’m 33 next month.”
For many goalkeepers, of course, that’s their prime and Given looks set to be a key player for the Republic of Ireland at least over the next couple of campaigns or so. Dean Kiely has deputised well when required while Keiren Westwood’s performances at Coventry City have been attracting the attention of the bigger clubs. However, few members of this Ireland squad can arrive for games with more confidence of starting than the Donegalman who, though he might yet be beaten to it by Kevin Kilbane, looks certain to comfortably surpass Steve Staunton’s record of 102 senior caps over the next year or so.
Few in the panel generate goodwill like Given either. For close to a decade Irish supporters of any number of British clubs, as well as many who follow none at all, wished him success at Newcastle United and perhaps only those with a grá for Manchester United have reservations about the move to Eastlands working out.
Given clearly has high hopes with the club’s manager and owners presumably having persuaded him of their ability to transform the fortunes of the English game’s sleeping giants.
His more immediate concern, however, is Italy whose status as world champions suggests they are anything but dormant greats of the international game. But, he insists, the standing of tomorrow night’s opponents should inspire and excite the Irish players rather than frighten them in any way.
“Generally speaking, as a player, going to take on the world champions in their back garden is what you want to do as a professional footballer,” he says. “Maybe I’m speaking out of turn, but it’s a great opportunity for all the players to go out there, enjoy the game, enjoy the challenge of playing against the world champions. I know I’m looking forward to it.”
The Italians had what was, by their standards, a disappointing European Championship but Given is generally dismissive of the idea they are in any sort of decline. He is adamant, however, Ireland possess the capacity to trouble them, even on home soil and refuses to countenance the idea that victory for the hosts is all but a formality.
“Things have changed a little bit for them over the past couple of years,” he acknowledges. “Their manager left after winning the World Cup but has come back again now. There have been a few changes but the nucleus of the team is still the same.
“They’ve got some great players. They’re not the world champions for no reason. We know it’s going to be a hugely tough game but we’re only a couple of points behind them and if we beat them we go ahead of them. I’m sure they’ll have some worries about us too. Rightly so.”
Much of the focus ahead of the match is bound to centre on the Irish manager and his assistant, Marco Tardelli, returning home to face their native Italy in such a big game. Trapattoni maintains he has nothing to prove despite having had an unsuccessful stint as national coach during the early part of the decade. Given, though, reckons the veteran coach’s inside knowledge of tomorrow’s opponents will be a particular help to Ireland as they look to spring a surprise.
“I would say so, definitely yeah,” he remarks. “And it’s not just Italian football he knows, he has a wealth of knowledge on world football. But it’s definitely an advantage for us he’ll know every player, their formation, how they’ll play, the stadium, the atmosphere, what to expect. He’ll know the ins and outs. It can only be to our advantage.
“Having said that we will be playing against the best team in the world and it’s a great challenge for the lads. Sometimes it’s better when you are the underdog and we will be the underdog, there is no doubt about that. But it’s very exciting to play in this type of game with so much at stake. To go and pitch yourself up against the world champions is why you play football.”
Asked, in the wake of Saturday’s failure against Bulgaria to press home an early advantage, whether what is perceived by some to be Trapattoni’s tactical conservatism might be better suited to a big away game like this, Given disputes the tag before observing that, however you describe the approach, we are about to find out.
“We haven’t gone out to win one-nil,” he says. “We don’t go out to get the goal early and sit back and try to hold on. Against Bulgaria I felt we created some good chances and could have been two- or three-nil up. Ideally, we’d like to play great football and win three- and four-nil but football is not like that anymore, we’ve got a tough group, there are no easy games and it’s all about qualifying.”
As to whether the approach is best suited to a game like this, he continues: “I’ll tell you on Thursday. He (Trapattoni) has got a firm belief on what he wants; the two guys in midfield protect the back four. We’re very solid when you lose the ball. Maybe it is more suited for away from home, I don’t know. I suppose it’s about getting results, that’s the important thing, it’s not about home or away, it’s about qualification. We’ll see how Wednesday night goes.”
