SOCCER:GIVEN A key element of his approach to managing this Irish team has been to boost self-belief, Giovanni Trapattoni might have regretted his decision to have his players practice penalties out at Malahide yesterday.

Robbie Keane, as he might well be should the occasion require it next Wednesday in Paris, was the first to step up to the spot and the first to see a weak attempt on saved.

What followed would not, it is fair to say, have struck fear into any opposition: the second was easily gathered too.

After that a few started to go in – Damien Duff and Andy Keogh produced the best of them – but a handful also missed the target completely, with one flying well over. Richard Dunne then drove his effort off the post.

The French, most likely, are preparing for a shoot-out too, but Raymond Domenech has suggested that the more immediate threat to his side’s chances of making it to next summer’s World Cup finals is likely to come from Irish set-pieces, where Dunne will be a leading contender to cause problems.

If the coach is wary of the big centre-back, though, the feeling does not appear to be mutual, for Dunne went out of his way last night to express near contempt for the maligned 57-year-old.

“I think over the last World Cups and Euros, they haven’t run smoothly for France, but they’ve always got through and maybe it’s time we put a stop to that,” he said. “And we know if we can get in front that they probably have not got the man at the top to pull them back round.”

Dunne was then asked about Domenech’s alleged description of Ireland as an “England B team”, a translation of his comments which has been contested, with some arguing he was simply suggesting a similarity of style.

So the Dubliner may have been reacting to an insult that was never intended, but the enthusiasm with which he went on the counterattack suggested a pre-existing antipathy towards the Frenchman.

“I didn’t know that, but it doesn’t surprise me. Every time a tournament comes round, they have all these world-class players and then a man who seems intent on messing them up,” he said in relation to a coach who was in charge when the team beat Ireland in Dublin four years ago and then reached the World Cup final the following summer – but apparently deserves none of the credit for either achievement.

“Even watching Sky Sports today,” Dunne continued, “you can see the reaction of the people at the tennis when they put his face on the big screen and the whole place just booed him and his own players laughed at him.

“It (Domenech’s role and the attitude of the players towards him) could be a weakness, it could be a big smokescreen. The last few games they have played really well and they seem to be clicking now.

“But if we can get on top of them and try to turn the game into a battle, we feel we have the stronger personalities who are up for that sort of game.”

Trapattoni, needless to say, was a good deal more circumspect, especially where his opposite number is concerned. The Italian coolly insisted he has the utmost respect for Domenech and was confident the feeling is reciprocated.

There was still a sense from the former Juventus boss that, of the two coaches, he might have to be the more influential if Ireland are to progress, as France’s depth of talent gives them an obvious advantage.

“France have strong individual players and so we need to be strong together,” he said. “But then for me every player who plays international football is strong. And we also have the good players, for example Damien Duff and Robbie Keane. We’ve seen in the past that these players are very important.

“Sure, the French have famous players, they play in the best English and European teams, but that’s not enough in football. Football is me against you, there is only one ball on the pitch. There are not five balls. When you have the ball, I have to take it. When I have it, I have to play.”

Asked whether getting Ireland to the World Cup finals might be the greatest achievement of his illustrious career, Trapattoni shrugged.

“In the life, it’s the next result that is the beautiful, the most important. The rest are memories. For me, to achieve qualification for South Africa would be like the championships I won with the very important teams. That is more important.

“It would be fantastic. I think we can achieve it and I will always give 101 per cent in every situation.”

That may come as a slight disappointment to some in a nation where 110 tends to be regarded as the footballing norm.

Trapattoni’s only injury concern at this stage is midfielder Liam Miller, who last night had a scan on a calf injury which could rule him out of Saturday’s match. The 27-year-old will be assessed again today, but could be sent back to his club Hibernian if he is unable to take his place in the squad.

However, Trapattoni will not call up a replacement if Miller misses out.