TyranaxThis is generally the shape that the Ireland team takes in qualifying under Trapattoni. It is nominally a classic 4-4-2 with two wide men, a mobile central unit in midfield and two strikers. Howevew in pracitce it is different. Ireland tend to start at a high tempo, attacking through the wings and attempting to get an early goal. Later in the match it becomes quite defensive, with Robbie Keane dropping into midfield at times to make it 4-5-1, Doyle being left as a lone front man, and Whelan and Andrews dropping very deep, almost as far back as to be as little as 25 metres from goal. Hunt and Duff funnell back as well, and the two full back get quite tight to the box, almost acting at times as auxilary centre halves, with Dunne and O'Shea camped inside the six yard box when Ireland are under pressure. On the counterattack late on, generally either a long out-ball is played to Doyle, or a pass is given wide and the team will attempt to advance from wide, with the midfield occasionally breaking forward to support, often Andrews being the most advanced of the duo with Whelan remaining deeper.

24.06.2009