BETDAQ’s Greg Walker is back with an in-depth preview of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying clash between Republic Of Ireland v Austria.
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He now previews Republic of Ireland v Austria…..
WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Republic of Ireland v Austria
KO 19:45
Trapattoni Grief….
Ever since Giovanni Trapatoni took over the reigns of the Irish national football team it seems there has been a constant negative vibe originating from the Irish media on the vastly experienced and successful Italian manager. Not quite to the brutal extent of some of the UK rags of the past in their treatment to some of their national managers but it seems that Irish football fans are currently experiencing a “monkey see-monkey do” journalism campaign with every sentence uttered by Trapatoni being criticized or made fun of by the nation’s sporting hacks. Since his appointment in 2008 Trapatoni guided Ireland to a play-off for the 2010 World Cup where controversially knocked out in Paris by the infamous “hand of Henry”. In 2012 he secured Ireland’s first major tournament participation for ten years only to unluckily come into a group consisting of World football heavyweights Spain and Italy (also Croatia) and presently he has his boys in green sitting pretty in their world cup 2014 qualifying group where a win in Dublin next Tuesday will slot them into second place with their main rivals Sweden still to visit the Irish capitol. So seriously, what is the problem….??!!
Austrian advice….
Irelands opponents next Tuesday are Austria and from my betting perspective I hope they will have being following the Irish media and expect an easy game in Dublin. The Austrian’s are similar to Ireland in terms of major tournaments (in recent times) with participation in the 2008 European Championships(Qualified automatically as Co-Hosts) being the only highlight for their fans since the 1998 World Cup. Their 2014 campaign has seen them play four games accumulating seven points. They expectedly lost at home to Germany, two home wins over Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan and an away draw to Kazakhstan. The away draw to Kazakhstan is an interesting yardstick in the context of making a wager on this game. Both Ireland and Austria dominated in Astana but Ireland managed to score two while the Austrian’s could not breach the defensive Kazaks. Austria’s most famous player and goal scorer, Toni Polster, has long since retired and the goal scoring duties are now left to Austria Vienna hit man Philipp Hosnier. The Austrian’s do have some top quality in their team particularly Bayern Munich defender David Alaba who sometimes plays in midfield for his country and the excellent Shalke defender Christian Fuchs. Former Swiss international Marcel Koller took charge in October 2011 and is in his first international managerial position. A couple of convincing home wins to weak opposition will have given his players and fans confidence but a trip to Dublin will be a major step up in grade on those expected victories.
Missing Captain….
Robbie Keane is out! Is this a good or a bad thing for Ireland? There are two ways to view this team news. Captain Keane is experienced, very respected and feared by opposing defenders and with out question is a positive influence on his team. The other view is that he has lost his natural scoring ability attributed to a mixture of his playing in America’s MLS and age catching up with him. I am of the view that he is still needed but team confidence is high going into the Austria game and I do feel that the Irish strikers such as Shane Long, Jonathon Walters or Kevin Doyle will be more suited to putting away any half chances that will come Ireland’s way. The night Germany scored six in Dublin the defensive unit consisted of o Dea, Ward, o Shea and Coleman, against the Austrian’s it will consist of Coleman, O Shea, Clark and Wilson, a much stronger unit. Stoke City’s Marc Wilson is proving very capable at international level with excellent defensive qualities although his distribution is weak there is no doubt this will improve with every international for which I feel there will be many. The midfield against the Germans was made up of McCarthy, O Dea, McGeady and Andrews again an improvement is seen with McCarthy, McClean Green/Whelan and hopefully Hoolahan.
Irelande, trois points….
The Swedish point last Saturday was well won and well deserved. This Swedish team are free scorers putting four past both Germany and England and two past Argentina this past six months. The Irish team did not play overly defensive yet restricted the Swedes to just three shots on target in their own back yard. The Austrians, particularly Hosnier, must be respected but they do not have the same offensive firepower as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Co. There is no question that Trapatoni can be and is generally cautious but in the past he has played offensive teams when he feels a games warrants such tactics. The past play-off games against France and Estonia are such examples and whilst this is not a play-off it certainly has that feel about it. The players, manager and fans know this is a must win game on the road to Rio and I expect when they are successful in securing the three points that the Irish media will still have it in for Giovanni Trapatoni! but I am sure by then the Irish fans won’t give a Toto Schilachii what they think…I know I won’t….
Betting on BETDAQ-Greg’s Tips.
Back FOUR Points IRELAND TO WIN @2.20
PROFIT TO DATE: 19.47 points
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