Rep. Ireland 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina: Trapattoni focuses on future as Ireland sign off with victory

Giovanni Trapattoni set off on the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 adventure yesterday insisting their success will rest not on his glorious past but his ability to adapt to the present.

The 73-year-old managed his native Italy and has won league titles at home and in Germany, Portugal and Austria, and, under his guidance, the Republic have made impressive strides. However, as he and his players flew out of Dublin for their pre-tournament training camp in Montecatini, he was adamant that all that matters now is the future and his ability to move with the times.

Trapattoni said: “I have had many opportunities in the past also because I played in finals as a player. But that is the past. It is important that I show everyone I am still useful. That’s what is important, what I will do in the future.

“That’s important because football changes and it’s important I go with football. I still know about the old football. There are teams that win and there are teams like Bayern [Munich] which played better [than Chelsea] and lost the Champions League final. That’s football. I follow this football, the new football.”

The Ireland party boarded the plane in high spirits after a 1-0 friendly victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday. Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady put in a man of the match performance, while Shane Long grabbed the only goal of the game with a header 12 minutes from time. However, the Irish lost midfielder Keith Fahey to a groin injury, and his misfortune propelled former Derby midfielder Paul Green, who is currently unattached, from the stand-by list into the squad.

Paul McShane, who was called up as defensive cover last week amid a rash of injuries, occupied a 24th seat, and he could yet become a permanent member of the squad with Trapattoni’s concerns over John O’Shea and Kevin Foley ongoing, while goalkeeper Shay Given is working to shake off a knee problem.

The manager is well aware of the task facing his side as they attempt to find a way past Spain, Italy and Croatia to emerge from Group C, but he remains optimistic.

Trapattoni said: “What I ask always of the team is that we believe in ourselves. We have shown them what we want them to do and they understand.”