Trap counting the luck of the Irish

Vyacheslav Malafeev must feel a little sheepish when he looks at his latest Russian cap. For the 32-year-old barely deserved it.

That isn’t a slight on his efforts, but merely a reflection on the game against Ireland, which saw the home side attack for the entire 90 minutes, meaning Malafeev could have had a little sleep and still kept a clean sheet. I go to watch football live most weeks and can’t remember such a one-sided game, especially one that resulted in a draw.

Goalkeeper Shay Given and defender Richard Dunne in particular were outstanding, putting their bodies on the line for the cause. Dunne made two miraculous goal line clearances, while Given was as spritely between the sticks as ever, especially in the 88th minute when he sprawled full-stretch to keep out Konstantin Zyryanov’s diving header.

If you work hard to earn luck they boy did Ireland earn it in Moscow. So much so that it transmitted all the way to Slovakia, who in one of the shock football scores of the night, crashed 4-0 at home to Armenia to leave Ireland within touching distance of Euro 2012 – their first major tournament in 10 years.

To put their position all down to luck though is also a little unfair. This was, after all, their seventh consecutive clean sheet – a new national record – while boss Giovanni Trapattoni has yet to lose a qualifier away from home in charge of the Republic. They have laid the stones from which great things are constructed.

They remain two points behind Russia with two games each remaining. As one of those is against Andorra the Irish fate will be decided when Russia travel to Slovakia for a tricky penultimate qualifier.

If Russia lose and provided Ireland beat Andorra, then Giovanni Trapattoni’s men can secure their ticket to Poland and the Ukraine by beating Armenia at home in October. There are easier routes to major finals but there are also infinitely more tougher ones. And after the miracle of Moscow, anything is possible.

Related posts:

1. Trapattoni named Republic of Ireland’s New Manager
2. August 22 – EURO 2008 Qualifying games
3. EURO 2008 Results – Jun 21st. Bye Oranje.
4. EURO 2008 Qualifiers – Nov. 21st matches
5. Don’t we love days like today?