Italian coaching greats to challenge for WC berth

Croke Park in Dublin will not only be the setting for a crucial World Cup qualifier between Ireland and Italy but it will also see two Italian coaching greats lock horns on Saturday.

And the two men could not be more different while in many ways epitomising the character of their own teams.

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is charismatic and energetic and leads a team known since the heady days of the Jack Charlton reign as a jovial band of happy-go-lucky over-achievers playing with heart and grit.Ire

Italy’s Marcello Lippi is a dour and studious type whose country invented the much-maligned but effective catenaccio style of play where a team’s primary concern was not to concede a goal while scoring one was almost considered an unexpected bonus.

Both are legends in their own right, although Trapattoni is much the more loved even if it is Lippi who in 2006 guided Italy to their fourth World Cup triumph.

Trappatoni’s Italy reign from 2000-2004 was marked by under-achievement as they lost to South Korea in the second round of the 2002 World Cup and were eliminated from the group stages of the 2004 European Championships.

And yet in club football, ‘Trapp’ has been considerably the more successful of the pair.

They both enjoyed great trophy-laden spells in charge of Juventus, each winning the European Cup or Champions League once — Juve’s only two victories in Europe’s premier club competition — with Trapp claiming six Serie A titles to Lippi’s five.

But Trapp also won titles at Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Benfica and FC Salzburg whereas Lippi’s first piece of silverware away from Juve was the World Cup.

For Italy’s players, it will be a pleasure to come up against Trapattoni once again.

“Coaches like him, (Cesare) Maldini or (Dino) Zoff are part of the old generation of coaches who cannot be replicated,” said Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

“They came from another type of football, they brought with their their ability to manage the person, the footballers.

Asked how Trapattoni and Lippi differ, Buffon added: “Trapattoni was smiley and ready for battle, but too could get enraged.

“New generation coaches are better prepared. Lippi, like (Fabio) Capello and (Carlo) Ancelotti, bridged the gap between the old school and new style of coaches.

“From a football that was less physical and tactical we have moved on to one that is more complete, he has such a mix in his locker that he is unique.”

Whatever their differences, two of arguably the greatest ever Italian coaches are trying to guide their team to the World Cup finals.

Italy are in pole position as they lead group eight by four points with just two games to play.

Should they avoid defeat, Lippi’s ticket to South Africa will be secured while even if Ireland win, Trappatoni may still need to guide his team through the play-offs.

If Italy lose in Dublin they would still lead the group by one point and then a victory at home to Cyprus in Parma on Wednesday would be enough to qualify.

Both sides are unbeaten but Ireland have been hurt by draws at home to Bulgaria and away to Montenegro, matches that Italy managed to win.

It would be a tall order for Ireland to snatch top spot as it would require a remarkable collapse from the Italians, something that rarely happens.

In truth the Irish were probably always looking at this group and hoping for second place, which might temper their ambition on Saturday.

If they draw they would only need a point at home to Montenegro in their final group match on Wednesday to secure second place and a play-off berth, whereas a defeat could see them needing to beat the Montenegrans to stay ahead of Bulgaria.

A victory would still probably only see the Irish finishing second so it would be no surprise if this match turned out to be a stale affair between two teams happy to settle for a point.