Team Ireland can take Sofia heat

SOCCER/ WORLD CUP QUALIFIER Bulgaria v Rep of Ireland: THE GREEN shirts were starting to become a little more numerous in Sofia yesterday but with just 2,500 visiting fans expected in the centre of a city similar in size to Dublin by this afternoon the Irish invasion will remain low-key by comparison with those experienced before away games of similar importance over recent years.

An ailing economy and a decline in what might be described as the team’s star quality have both taken their toll on the size of the Republic of Ireland’s travelling support of late and yet Robbie Keane sought to portray the latter as a positive factor at yesterday’s slightly chaotic pre-match press conference.

“That’s our strength,” the Ireland captain told a room crammed full of mainly Bulgarian journalists. “We are a team. There are no stars and if we lose, we lose as a team.”

When, from beside him, Giovanni Trapattoni chipped in with the observation that, “in football, there are no unbeatable teams”, the message didn’t seem to be an entirely upbeat one for those who had still possessed the reserves of cash and conviction required to make this trip.

The quality of their performance in Dublin suggests the Bulgarians are still capable of a good deal better than they have produced in most of the qualifying games to date.

Still, the levels of confidence being exhibited locally are a little difficult to fathom, with former Levski Sofia striker Nasko Sirakov, now the national team’s general manager, suggesting, for instance, the hosts would rather easily beat an Ireland side that is “not exactly a force in football”.

Trapattoni laughed the comment off before some observations of his own that, by the time they had been through two translators, will doubtless give Sirakov some food for thought, if the local media choose to relay them.

To be fair, the Irish press corps were a little lost themselves when Trapattoni was asked about his team selection for this evening and the Italian attempted to explain in English how the way the Bulgarians had knocked the ball about throughout the second half at Croke Park had left him feeling that some changes were required.

The gist of it seemed to be that John O’Shea will indeed start at right back, with Sean St Ledger alongside Richard Dunne in the middle but an early switch between the pair – or even more drastic change early on – is not being ruled out by the veteran coach.

Up front, there was something approaching confirmation that Caleb Folan will start with Robbie Keane, while Stephen Hunt is on course for selection ahead of Aiden McGeady.

All of this was subject to the players getting through the training that was about to follow without any significant problems. The feeling last night, though, was that much had indeed been accomplished, with all of the would-be starters, bar Paul McShane, who is definitely out, doing enough to be declared fit to play.

The ability of Stanimir Stoilov’s men to move the ball about at pace through midfield certainly provided some cause for concern at the end of March and Martin Petrov’s return tonight will add pace to their attack down what was already their stronger, left side.

In Dublin, Stilian Petrov was the source of many of Ireland’s problems and he too will have to be contained a little more effectively this evening, but with right-back Stanislav Manolev suspended and no natural left back included in the home side’s squad there may be opportunities for the Ireland wide men to press forward too, if they are not preoccupied with the defensive side of their duties.

With Kevin Doyle absent, Folan’s ability to compete in the air and to hold the ball up will be important if Ireland are not to find themselves facing wave after wave of attack from the home side, but perhaps most critical of all is the need for another big performance from what remains an inexperienced and, it has to be said, slightly limited central midfield.

Keane’s recent form for the Republic – he has scored six times in his last nine games – appears to provide the most obvious hope of an away goal and Trapattoni would dearly love his players to have a lead to defend over the closing stages.

The locals, meanwhile, will be hoping Dimitar Berbatov has one of his better nights but there are other threats, most notably the Petrovs and, if he plays, set-piece specialist Blagoy Georgiev.

Reports from back home that Trapattoni had been in touch over the last week or so with Stephen Ireland were all but confirmed by the Italian who, while pointedly naming Steven Reid rather than the Manchester City midfielder, said that he occasionally calls or sends text messages to absent players but that nothing much should be read into it. In Ireland’s case, it appears he congratulated the 22-year-old on a good season and his young player of the year award, while reminding him the door remains open if and when he decides to end his international exile.

The locals seemed bored and one asked about Trapattoni’s impressions of Emil Kostandinov, the now retired Bulgarian striker who played under the coach for a brief spell at Bayern Munich more than a decade ago.

Minutes later, the Irish were heading out for training, although with temperatures still in the high 20s at 4.30pm or so local time, they didn’t look anxious to over exert themselves during the part of the session that was open to the media. When the game kicks-off four hours later this evening, it will be significantly cooler and Keane dismissed the idea that the heat would be a factor, pointing to the fact it had been “roasting” in St Albans during the past week.

“Anyway,” interjected Trapattoni again, “the Bulgarians all play in England so it is the same for everyone.”

With the Ireland support set to be outnumbered by almost 20 to one inside the Vasil Levski Stadium come kick-off tonight, though, Keane and co are still likely to feel a heat of sorts.

IRELAND: Given(Manchester City); O'Shea(Manchester United), Dunne(Manchester City), St Ledger(Preston North End), Kilbane(Hull City); S Hunt(Reading), Whelan(Stoke City), Andrews(Blackburn Rovers), Duff(Newcastle United); Keane(Tottenham Hotspur), Folan(Hull City).

BULGARIA: Ivankov(Bursaspor); Milanov(Levski Sofia), Tomasic(Maccabi Tel Aviv), Stoyanov(Sanfreche), Kishishev(Litex Lovech); Telkiyski(Hapoel Tel Aviv), S Petrov(Aston Villa), Angelov(Energie Cottbus), M Petrov(Manchester City); Bojinov(Manchester City), Berbatov(Manchester United).

Referee: Claus Bo Larsen(Denmark).