Ireland hit four but Trap door looms
THE FA of Ireland last night refused to back manager Giovanni Trapattoni despite thrashing the Faroe Islands to put the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup campaign back on track. The biggest margin of defeat for the minnows since 2007 has only clouded the issue of Trapattoni’s future after a dismal Euro 2012 disaster and the 6-1 hammering by Germany last Friday. Trapattoni appeared to get a ringing endorsement from his players with their much-improved display and best result since the Euro 2012 play-off win over Estonia a year ago. There was vocal support, too, from captain Robbie Keane, who claimed his 55th Ireland goal, and fellow forward Jon Walters — who was claiming his second in the same incident, which gave the visitors their second goal. ‘He is still everyone’s man,’ said the captain, while Walters said the win was ‘for the manager’. But during the game a ‘Trap Out’ banner was unfurled among 200 travelling fans, and before and afterwards, chief executive John Delaney refused to kill off the growing speculation over Trapattoni’s future. Delaney told journalists who approached him to go away. ‘I am not saying anything,’ he said. After a nervy goalless firsthalf, Ireland powered to a commanding lead after the break, gaining momentum from a goal for Marc Wilson, making his competitive debut, in the first minute of the second half. Keane and Walters have been left to fight out claims for the second, while Walters supplied the cross for the third via Pol Justinussen’s right boot after substitute Arnbjorn Hansen had given the visitors a slight scare with his header to make it 2-1. The scoring was completed by defender Darren O’Dea. Trapattoni insisted he will not walk out and expects to be in charge for the friendly against Greece next month. Asked if he would stay on or expected the FAI to end his four-and-a-half year reign, the Ireland manager said: ‘I don’t know. I know I was at three of the most important clubs in the world and I knew the procedures there. I will continue until the FAI tell me that I am not to do the job any longer. I continue to renew the squad. I only know what we have done in three years. The results, the ranking the changes in the team. This I know. After that the FAI must make the decision. For me that is new.