An exercise in familiarity
The machine that is Irish soccer at the moment rolls on, thirteen games now without loss. Shane Long's 79th minute header giving the men in green the victory. In all honesty Bosnia didn't pose much of a threat. Their main attacking force- Manchester City's Edin Dzeko- was present in body but not particularly in mind. Consequently the visitor's attack was rendered largely ineffectual.
The FAI, we're told, handpicked today's opposition due to the similarities between their style of play and that of our Group C opponents Croatia. Short intricate passing in the middle of the park is the name of the game, and Ireland were to get to grips with it before departing for Eastern Europe. All in all, this was an exercise in familiarity and, in Trapatonni's terms, experimentation. So what did we learn?
James McClean had an encouraging first half. The young Sunderland winger was all gusto and plenty guile. He succeeded in delivering a number of threatening crosses, tracked back well in defence and nearly managed to sneak one effort in at the near post just before the break. The new man had arrived and set down a marker for his competitors. Meanwhile on the other flank Damien Duff gave his customary assured performance. The Fulham star looked sharp throughout and really should have opened the scoring, Ireland's two best chances of the half having fallen to him. Duff, you would imagine is a certainty to start in Gdansk on June 10. It is competition for the other wing berth that has now been blown wide open. Having started promisingly McClean's influence waned in the second period, while replacement Aiden McGeady proceeded to deposit 45 minutes of stellar wing play in his account. As McClean looked increasingly sloppy and seemed to tire in the magnificent May heat, McGeady was only getting going. The pace and trickery we have come to expect from him were apparent in abundance, but so too was his final ball. The Spartak Moscow winger has been much maligned by public and press alike in recent times, but as the player himself was at pains to point out this week; nobody contributed more assists in the qualifying campaign and again today he proved the difference. Having seen his magnificent floated cross squandered by Johnny Walters moments earlier, the winger again tricked his way into a dangerous position and lofted another cross into the area on 79 minutes which Long duly converted. Just as the game was heading towards a stalemate McGeady again proved to be the spark of inspiration that changed the game. McClean's challenge had been seen and surpassed, the Man of the Match award secured in just 45 minutes work. Aiden will rest easy tonight. The emergence of the young pretender McClean has pushed Stephen Hunt somewhat to the periphery. Having been stripped and ready to come on, he was strangely stood down again and forced to retreat to the bench. The 'lap of honour' at the finish presented Trap with the opportunity for a word of consolation. One would imagine Hunt will start against Hungary, it may perhaps be his only start of the summer. So the race to occupy the flanks is well and truly on. For now McGeady occupies pole position.
Up front, Long will have certainly given the manager food for though with an impressive display and a well taken goal. One would imagine Doyle remains the favourite to partner Robbie Keane come crunch time but the Tipp native has been applying steady pressure of late and should not be discounted in the reckoning. Beyond that Simon Cox didn't get a run out today while Johnathon Walters turned in a performance he'd rather forget. Nonetheless the big Stoke man can provide a different focus of attack which may prove important moving forward. One note of caution at the opposite end of the pitch would be the ease at which the Bosnian's often found space in front of the Irish back four. This particular group of players generally work very hard in denying such space to opposition players, but today were found wanting at times.
The preparations for our first European Championships in 24 years are underway, just one more sparring partner awaits in Budapest. As a nation we pray that come full time in the Ferenc Puskas Stadion the team has been sufficiently well conditioned to avoid the knock-out punch of the heavy hitters that await.
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