Trapattoni: Robbie will be ready

Posted Tuesday, August 30, 2011 by teamtalk.com

Trapattoni: Robbie will be ready
Keane: Flying in from the USA

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is confident Robbie Keane will be ready to lead his country after jetting in from America.

The LA Galaxy striker is due to arrive in Dublin on Tuesday to meet up with the rest of the squad ahead of Friday night's Group B clash with Slovakia at the Aviva Stadium and next Tuesday's potentially decisive trip to Russia.

Keane, 31, has scored 51 goals in 109 senior appearances for Ireland and represents Trapattoni's most potent weapon as the Italian attempts to guide the Republic to the finals of a major tournament for the first time since the 2002 World Cup in the Far East.

But the Italian has no fears that the trans-Atlantic commute will affect the striker, who assured him of his commitment to international football as he headed into Major League Soccer.

Trapattoni said: "I spoke with him and he went with enthusiasm. He told me he was happy.

"He wished also to be with the Irish team and he will be with us this week.

"I am sure also now after one day's rest he can play despite the long flight."

Keane scored on his debut for the Galaxy in a 2-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes on August 20, and also started against Costa Rican champions Alajuelense in the CONCACAF Champions League on Thursday as his side ran out victors by the same score.

While the much-travelled frontman has become something of a talisman for his country over the years, he now enjoys a measure of support from a new generation of Irish strikers.

Kevin Doyle has established himself as Keane's main foil, but the emergence of Shane Long and new West Brom team-mate Simon Cox as genuine options has given Trapattoni real choice.

The manager said: "It's important to have these options. In the 90 minutes, we can start and then change.

"It's very important to choose every option."

The Slovakia and Russia games will have a major say in the outcome of the group, with the three sides involved locked together at the top of the table on 13 points.

Ireland lost at home to the Russians and drew in Slovakia in October, and there has been little to choose between the teams throughout the campaign to date.

But while Trapattoni is fully aware of the magnitude of the double-header, he is refusing even to contemplate what lies ahead in Moscow next week until the first encounter has been negotiated.

He said: "We must prepare for these two games with more attention - I say more because it is always important to improve.

"Every game shows us or teaches us that it is possible to improve again.

"For example, for the last [friendly] game against Croatia, we were missing two or three important players. But the players who came in played well, and I am confident about them.

"I saw how it's possible to improve not only the system, but the attitude, mentality and how it's possible to achieve the result when we are missing one or two important players.

"Now against Slovakia and against Russia, we need to start with the winning mentality because I think we can do that.

"But we have to think about Russia only after three days."

Trapattoni also returned to a familiar theme when talk of a boozy bust-up at the team hotel in May was raised, and insisted that, although he does not mind his players having a drink after a game, they must stick to his rules.

He said: "Two or three months ago, I allowed them to drink beer. Why not? In Italy, we drink wine.

"We don't need any secrets. Everything has to be clear. We can allow it as long as at 11 o'clock, they come back."