Trapattoni’s warning after Republic success

wales look good but northern ireland suffer setback in bratislava

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GIOVANNI Trapattoni will send his Republic of Ireland side out in Montenegro on Wednesday night warning them to take nothing for granted.

The Republic got their World Cup campaign off to a positive start with a 2-1 victory over Georgia in Mainz thanks to goals by Kevin Doyle in 13 minutes – from a cross by Celtic’s Aiden McGeady – and Glenn Whelan in 70 minutes. Kenia pulled one back for the Georgians in the final minute.

While the Republic were making the most of Fifa’s decision to order Georgia to play their home game in Germany, Montenegro were denied victory over 10-man Bulgaria only at the death when substitute Blagoy Georgiev snatched a 2-2 draw.

That, coupled with Italy’s narrow escape – they were under the cosh at 1-1 in Cyprus deep into injury time when Antonio Di Natale scored a late winner – left the Irish in optimistic mood.

Trapattoni said: “Montenegro are a good team and they have good players.

“If you look across Europe, Italy scored in the last seconds to save their game and there were plenty of other shocks.

“France lost against Austria. I have told the players, every game is very, very dangerous.”

John Toshack had to thank his young stars for Wales’s opening World Cup qualifying victory as he continues to struggle with the problem that is Jason Koumas.

The Wigan midfielder needed three injections in an ankle injury to even get on the pitch for the 1-0 win over Azerbaijan in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

And that explained a lot about an erratic performance which included a stupid booking and a missed penalty. Koumas is unlikely to be fit enough for the trip to Moscow to take on Russia in Wednesday’s Group 4 clash in the Lokomotiv stadium.

Sam Vokes scored for Wales seven minutes from time.

Northern Ireland aim to get their campaign up and running against the Czech Republic in Belfast on Wednesday after losing 2-1 to Slovakia in Bratislava.

Northern Ireland were undone by two set-pieces with Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik scoring in the 46th and 70th minutes. They pulled a goal back with nine minutes to go when Jan Durica steered the ball into his own net.

Despite the loss, Northern Ireland will go into Wednesday with confidence having put England, Spain and Sweden to the sword in Belfast. Skipper Aaron Hughes said: “We have shown in previous campaigns that at home we are good enough.”