Trapattoni tentative ahead of Bosnia battle

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni said he is wary of Saturday opponents Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ireland – who have qualified for Euro 2012 – take on their eastern European opponents at Aviva Stadium on Sunday as they begin their preparations for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

Trapattoni is hopeful that West Bromwich Albion striker Shane Long, Wolverhampton’s Kevin Doyle and LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane can form a good partnership at the championship.

“This team (Bosnia and Herzegovina) is full of creative players, they play in Germany, England and I know this team very well,” Trapattoni said.

“My friend said to me ‘Be careful as he saw a DVD about them and their important players from Italy and (Manchester City’s Edin) Dzeko’. Dzeko is a strong striker.

“This is the first time that he (Long), Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle will play together and I want to keep confident with them.

“I’m very happy and I think we are ready to start the European season.”

Despite the match being a friendly, Keane said it will be taken exceptionally seriously by the playing squad as they look to prove their worth to Trapattoni.

“Everybody is desperate to play in the first game (of Euro 2012),” Keane said.

“So I think the intensity and the level of performance will naturally go up, because everyone wants to be picked by the manager.”

Ireland open Euro 2012 against Croatia in Poznan on June 10.