Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has said that he will not be risking the players who will be travelling to the Euro 2012 in the friendly matches. Republic of Ireland will be playing in two friendlies prior to the start of the Euro 2012. They are in the group containing both Spain and Italy, but Giovanni Trapattoni has been speaking extremely confident about his team’s ability to get a result against the former world champions. It is not surprising given that Republic of Ireland recently have beaten Italy in friendly matches. Republic of Ireland will be facing Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary in the two friendly matches.
Giovanni Trapattoni has already had to deal with a number of injury problems to some of his high profile players. Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given has been the latest injury trouble for the Italian. It is expected that the former Newcastle United goalkeeper will be visiting a knee specialist in the next few days in order to overcome his knee problem. Robbie Keane is struggling with a hamstring injury, but is expected to make it into the tournament. As a result, Trapattoni will be experimenting only with formations ahead of the tournament.
“They want to play but it is not worth the risk. Why run the risk? I am an idiot, he is an idiot if he is injured. We will decide if it is better for them not to play because it’s too near to the finals. I am only worried when we have serious injuries and at the moment we only have two or three small injuries. The doctor says they can be ready in two or three days and I am not particularly worried,” Trapattoni said in the interview given ahead of the Bosnia match, which is expected to be a formality.