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Internationals

Croke Park is more Choke Park for Ireland these days: next up Brazil!

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Andrew French tells us why the glory days of Jack Charlton's Ireland are over and why now is hardly the best time for them to be playing Brazil

There was a time when meeting the Republic of Ireland struck the fear of God into opposing teams.

They were direct, they were extremely hard-working, they were organised and they gave nothing away without a fight. Indeed, that's still largely their approach today - the trouble is, the current crop of players just doesn't do it as well as in the halcyon days of Jack Charlton's team.

When the likes of Paul McGrath, Dennis Irwin, Niall Quinn and Ray Houghton were the heroes of the Emerald Isle, the whole country felt they could beat just about anyone on their day. And regularly they did, making progression in - not just qualification for - major tournaments commonplace.

But in recent years the current generation of Irish players just haven't been able to replicate that success. Even one of their former playing heroes, Steve Staunton, couldn't bring back the good times and lost his job as manager as a result.

The FAI are currently looking for a new manager to try and mould the current breed into a successful team, and their three-man selection panel - Houghton, Don Howe and Under-21's manager Don Givens - are reported to be ready to give their recommendation in the next 10 days. Rumours suggest it will be either former Italy boss Giovanni Trappatoni or ex-England manager Terry Venables.

However, neither will be in the dug-out for Wednesday's friendly with Brazil, so Givens continues in temporary charge.

The match takes place at Croke Park as work continues on the rebuilding of Lansdowne Road, and that in itself has been a problem. Lansdowne Road was part of the magic of recent years, a venue where Ireland were virtually unbeatable. Croke Park, more known as the home of Gaelic sports, just hasn't been the same.

It could be argued, though, that it wouldn't matter at what venue Ireland hosted Brazil, they are still going to be up against it.

It's a real battle of styles, Ireland's more direct and robust approach against the kings of cool, sexy football.

It really is very hard to suggest anything other than backing Brazil at [1.71]. With many of their stars based in Europe travelling will not be the problem it once might have been, and even without their managerial problems, Ireland would struggle to contain their visitors.

If you want some value and fancy an upset, you can back Ireland at [5.5] - it will be very few occasions they are priced so high at home, even given their recent dip in form. The draw can be backed at [3.5].

Ireland will have to do without the injured Andy Reid, the sort of player who could probably hold his own in the midfield passing stakes against Brazil, but they will be lifted by the return of Damien Duff for his first international since March.

But it's Brazil all the way for me. I don't think for one minute Ireland will be thrashed and they will definitely up their game against star opposition, the hallmark of Irish teams for the last 20 years or so.

However, I'll be looking at backing Brazil to win 1-0 and 2-0 at [5] and [6.6] respectively.