Trapattoni: Injuries are not an excuse

The Republic of Ireland may have an ever-increasing injury list but Giovanni Trapattoni will not use that as an excuse if his side lose to Germany in Friday’s World Cup qualifier.

Richard Dunne, Kevin Doyle and Darron Gibson, Glenn Whelan, Sean St Ledger and James McClean are all unavailable for the double header against Germany and the Faroe Islands, leaving Trapattoni with a selection headache, but the Italian insists the squad is strong enough to cope with the absentees.

“We don’t need an excuse – before the Euros we went 24 games with only one loss,” Trapattoni declared. “We have overcome the disappointment of the Euros and we don’t need another excuse.

“Everyone must go on the pitch and give 100 per cent – manager and players. We need 11 players running and running. I know German football and now I study this team. I have seen DVDS, DVDS, DVDS, DVDS.

“And I know every player but don’t forget that we have players like the Germany players.”

The lengthy injury list is likely to force Trapattoni into a change with James McCarthy and David Meyler tipped to start alongside Keith Andrews, but he will not make any decisions until he has had time to work with his players.

“I have to decide in two days. After tomorrow, we will decide,” he added.

“We are missing five players, but I am confident about the quality we have, and two or three players have grown a little bit in personality.

“I am optimistic because I know the German players, I know their attitude, their quality, but we also have a little bit of that quality and discipline.

“I am confident about this.”

When asked about possible changes, Trapattoni added: “Glenn is a big loss to us because nobody else really plays in his exact position.

“We have Keith Andrews, we have also James McCarthy and Keith Fahey, but they are a little bit different.

“McCarthy is fast, David Meyler is tall, which could be important against this opponent and Keith Fahey is also good technically. They have different qualities.”