France v Ireland...the Managers

As we are less than a week away from the first match between France and Ireland, I was thinking about all the elements that go into the game...why not...I have time and why not over analyze the matches! So the first entry will be on the Managers. Since they are the ones that select the players, the line ups, tactics, formations and provide the inspirational speeches...or in Domenech's case some astrological explanations.

Let us start with the Irish manager...who is Italian. Giovanni Trapattoni, or Trap to his closest friends. Anyone who follows footie knows of the Italian and his storied track record with clubs, less glorious with nations since the Italian teams he lead did not shower themselves in titles. Granted, his Japan/South Korea adventure could have ended better had Italy not gone out in controversial manner to the co hosts South Korea. However, the Italian is very adept at the art of football management and ensuring he gets the most out of what he has at hand. At the club level he has won everything one could hope for, no need to list it out you can follow his link above to see his record. I think he is a solid manager when it comes to knock out style competitions, which is really what we have coming up. You do not win all the major club silverware without having a knowledge of managing game to game, knowing that a loss and you are out. Finally he is Italian...so he knows how to get his teams to defend and play for the 1-0 win...with over 2 weeks to prepare I am sure that he has poured over match video and statistics and is keenly aware of France's weaknesses....ok really does not need to study too much, he could just read this blog - we all know that Les Bleus are vulnerable to set pieces, something Ireland is rather adept at. I am sure he will have some thoughts about how to get set pieces anywhere inside the French half and how to exploit France's skittish defending on these actions. He will give Ireland and their fans much to hope for, granted his team had some poor performances in the group stages, but were able to draw twice with Italy...almost beating them at Croke Park.

What about Les Bleus...well we all know who their manager is...and how I feel about him. He has been fairly consistent during his tenure with France. Consistently maddening! He continues to insist on having 2 holding midfielders, even against weaker sides. He jettisons players without much reason - Pires, Guily, Trezeguet to name a few. He has a bunch of binkies...who are terrible - Boumsong. He should have been axed after a disasterous Euro campaign. Finally he has the personnel skills of a gnat - see how he jettisoned Pires and Guily or how he "informed" Malouda that he would not be playing in a recent match. Yet through all of this he maintains his job. The side he has selected for these matches are very close to what he has always leaned on these days, so for creativity a zero. But I think consistency needs to be factored so that is good. His in game tactics leave much to be desired...something I have written about in the past. I think he uses his substitutions poorly, not controlling the pace and rhythm of the game when he could be (one match in particular against Israel where up 1-0 but down a player he does not use a substitute until the game is level, when he could have used his subs to get fresh legs on the pitch and slow down the Israeli momentum). Finally there is no love lost between Domenech and the Italians. Clearly during his time managing the U20s he had many a run ins with the Italians that did not come out in his favor. Is it mental? Does he have something against managing versus an Italian counterpart?

Overall I give the edge to Trap. While Domenech has a superior pool of players to select from, Trapattoni is a better in game manager and his club experience will make him very comfortable managing a home-away situation. Advantage - Ireland.