Trapattoni tactics tailor-made for this huge test

I expect the cagiest of tactical battles but the wily Italian can help us scramble through this two-legged, high-stakes qualifier

ESTONIA SEEM to be a lot like us. A counter-attacking side, they won’t go for the jugular tonight. They will probably be content with a draw. This will be dictated by their poor defensive record, in comparison, so the priority must be to shut us out.

I expect them to try to snatch an early goal but I wouldn’t be expecting Richard Dunne having to fend off the kitchen sink.

Their record on the road supports this theory. They won 3-1 in Serbia in October 2010. Okay, Brian Kerr’s Faroe Islands caught them out (2-0) but they recovered to win in Slovenia before securing a play-off spot by winning 2-1 in Belfast.

These victories, especially against Northern Ireland, must have them confident of winning in Dublin.

I expect the cagiest of tactical battles. Fear of conceding a goal should also guarantee a poor spectacle. Not that we expect much else from Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland. And not this matters anymore.

One-nil is all we need from Tallinn. A goal off a set-piece or one decent delivery from either Damien Duff or Aiden McGeady, who is hitting serious form in Moscow. The Estonians will know all about McGeady and two men will be trailing his runs. Not that it will matter should the mood take him. I could see him winning a penalty off a mazy dribble into the box.

If a first-half goal is scored it will be all hands to the pump. Otherwise, a dour nil-all draw is in prospect.

Everything is set up the way we initially hoped 18 months ago. Russia would win the group. We would come second and hope for a bit of luck in the play-offs, unlike 2009 in Paris.

With the away leg up first, we couldn’t have asked for more. The staleness of performance throughout the campaign will be shelved if we do enough tonight and next Tuesday.

I firmly believe we can win both matches 1-0 or maybe concede a late goal at the Aviva stadium next week to ensure the usual white- knuckle ride we have grown accustomed to.

Although similar to us in many respects, expect the usual swamping of midfield. At least Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews have plenty of experience and will keep their discipline. Hopefully, they are not overrun. Estonia, like almost everyone Ireland face nowadays, will leave one striker up front, two holders in the middle and another man dropping deep. They are flexible in this regard and may try to expose the obvious flaw in the Trapattoni midfield system. If we lose it will be primarily down to a failure to retain possession.

But I don’t think so. They don’t have the players to cut us open like Russia did. Their goals against Northern Ireland were scrappy. They will try the spectacular from long range but Shay Given will save us. He always does.

The Trapattoni tactics, while maligned in this column (and rightly so, I believe), are just what’s needed to scramble through a two-legged, high-stakes qualifier.

There is tactical clarity within the squad. We have conceded only seven goals in 10 competitive matches with only one of them, against Slovakia, away from home. The Italian influence is unmistakable. Trapattoni has a cabinet of club trophies because of his astuteness in this very situation.

The team picks itself. Until Alan Hutton’s horrible tackle did him in, Shane Long would have probably forced his way onto the field in the absence of the suspended Kevin Doyle.

But both Simon Cox and Jonathan Walters are big strong lads who will cause problems. Cox did enough the last day to play again but I would go with Walters. He seems to have more physicality, and they won’t be happy with him running in behind them. They might struggle to deal with him in the air as well.

So, nearly there. The entertainment value, while rarely evident on the pitch, will come naturally from the country being involved in three group matches next June.

Qualifying is important on so many levels. We have this young group that can only take the next leap by playing in a major tournament. Then there is Given, Duff, Dunne, John O’Shea and Robbie Keane who are desperate to relive the experiences of being at the 2002 World Cup.

Lord knows the business community in Ireland and football people in general need it. The money that will go into the FAI coffers from qualification alone will ensure the investment at grassroots level can continue. It could prove essential in employing more coaches like Noel King and Paul Doolin.

Soccer is still the biggest sport in the country but the success of rugby in recent years and increased popularity of the GAA has made up the mind of too many kids at a sporting crossroads. That can be changed, starting tonight.

Fingers crossed we get the job done. We have better players, guys who are playing regularly at the top level in England. We are well organised, we don’t concede goals, and know how to handle this environment.