Thousands flock to training session to welcome Ireland

The 15,000-capacity Municipal Stadium in Gdynia was close to full for a public session.

Giovanni Trapattoni and his players were greeted by cheerleaders and a huge Irish tricolour bearing the message “Welcome to Gdynia”.

There were cheers for each player as they were introduced to the crowd individually, with the biggest receptions reserved for the manager and skipper Robbie Keane.

The Republic will train at the stadium, the home of Arka Gdynia, as they complete their preparations for Sunday’s opening Group C fixture against Croatia in Poznan.

Yesterday’s session was a relatively light one in the wake of Monday night’s 0-0 friendly draw with Hungary in Budapest, although goalkeeper Shay Given played only a minor role. The 36-year-old, who had suffered with blisters after returning to training last week following a knee injury, played only the first half at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium but made three fine saves during his time on the pitch.

Richard Dunne was involved in the session and cannot wait to make up for lost time as he prepares to taste major tournament action for the first time.

The 32-year-old was part of the Republic of Ireland squad that travelled to the Far East for the 2002 World Cup finals, but did not feature as Mick McCarthy’s men came within a whisker of the quarter-finals.

He, like Given, Damien Duff and Keane, who did play in Japan and South Korea, has spent the decade since aching for another opportunity to represent Ireland in a major competition.

Dunne will get his chance when Trapattoni’s men face Croatia at the weekend before taking on European powerhouses Spain and Italy, and they are games he is relishing. The Aston Villa defender said: “I can’t wait. They are the biggest games of all of our lives, probably.

Trapattoni suffered a major scare in February when Dunne, whose form during qualifying was exemplary, fractured his collarbone playing for Villa against former club Manchester City.

However, as the nation held its breath, he was always confident he would be back in business in time to make the plane to Poland, and he has since proved his fitness against Bosnia-Herzegovina, a Tuscan Select XI and on Monday night, in Hungary.

Dunne said: “The club told me straight away how long the process would take. It was good to get 90 minutes and it means I go in with a bit more confidence.

“I have another week’s training now as well, so I will be ready when it starts.”

Keane, too, is itching to get started, with the squad having been together for more than a fortnight already.

“It’s been a long couple of weeks training, and we are nearing the end of that now and ready for the main competition. We look forward to settling into our camp in Poland and Sunday’s game,” said the striker.

The Ireland party landed in Poland having extended their unbeaten run to 14 games with a hard fought draw in Hungary.

Trapattoni was less than happy with a performance that saw his side having to defend tenaciously for long periods as the Hungarians’ 4-2-3-1 system caused real problems.

The Italian, who had indicated beforehand that the 11 men who started in Budapest would be 90 per cent assured of doing so again in Poznan, admitted he may have to dispense with his tried and trusted 4-4-2 system when the Republic come up against teams fielding just one out-and-out striker.

In the meantime, his players will be taking positives from a display that once again demonstrated their resilience, if not the organisation the manager wanted, with keeper Given and defender John O’Shea providing them with a boost by coming through unscathed on their return from injury.

Dunne said: “Hungary were very good, so it was a good test. It was important for us not to lose and not to get any injuries, and we came through that well.”