BY COLIN WILLIAMSON

When Fabio Capello surveyed the football landscape at the end of 2007, he was faced with a vast array of employment opportunities, as befitting an intelligent Italian manager with an impressive CV. Unfortunately for ‘Don Fabio’, he too was to make an unwise choice and drink from the poisoned chalice of English Football. Hypnotised by the hype, the status, and certainly the pay packet, he stumbled into one of the few jobs in the world almost guaranteed to end in bitter separation.
The England football team is a bit of an enigma within the national culture. Loved and hated in equal measure, derided within its own borders for its failings and apparent treachery, it is fiercely defended if those from foreign lands dare to point out the very same misgivings.
Armies of supporters march to its cause, travelling in hope and misplaced expectation, fuelled by a fervent media who analyse the actions of the national team with almost forensic fascination.
To be at the helm of such an institution is to carry the dreams of many, with almost no chance of seeing them fulfilled. One of the facts that escapes those who bemoan the inability of successive ‘Golden Generations’ to match the feats of the fabled heroes of ’66 is that English footballers just aren’t that good. Yes, the Premiership is the most watched, and arguably the most exciting, league in the world. It is packed with drama, scandal, athleticism and some of the finest players in the world. It just so happens that not many of them are English. When international football comes calling, the technical ability of the Spanish, Germans and South Americans finds the boys in white wanting.
So how does one approach such a job, where the expectations of success far outstrip the resources available to achieve it? You don’t. You pick the humble looking cup at the back, and live to fight another day.
The English FA are now presented with an unexpected opportunity. To see what must be done, they need only gaze south from the Wembley Arch towards rugby HQ at Twickenham. The similarities between the two organisations are probably far greater than either would care to admit. Both suffered from poor World Cups, both have issues with misbehaving players and a murky public image.
Rugby has taken the bull by the horns, clearing out the old guard and adopting a zero tolerance stance on any miscreants who cross the line of legal or moral acceptability. Whilst the evidence from the opening round of the Six Nations may suggest that this policy has seen no benefits on the pitch, it is undeniable that wounds are being healed off it. Performance will surely follow.
Will the FA dare to follow such a path? Are the footballing public more accepting of their idols misgivings, as long as they are masked by on-field success? How would they react to, for example, Wayne Rooney’s absence if he were to be convicted of drink driving?
It is perhaps prophetic that on the day Fabio ‘crumbled into dust,’ his heir apparent, Harry Redknapp, should appear blinking into the sunlight form Southwark Crown Court, the aura of scandal slipping effortlessly off his back to reveal a squeaky clean, ready-made replacement.
When the choice comes, as it surely will, will Harry be drawn in by the external beauty and sparkling splendour of the biggest job in football, or will he stick with the humble simplicity, but safety, of his role at Spurs.
Let’s hope he chooses wisely.

Geovanni Trappatoni’s men got off to the best possible start when Liam Lawrence’s squared free kick to Glenn Whelan met a sublime strike to put the hosts ahead. The Republic famously upset the Italians in 1994 by scoring early and holding out for the win. History would not repeat itself, however; just 17 minutes later the visitors were level when Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given fumbled a Mauro Camoranesi header at his near post from an Andrea Pirlo corner. The Italians, for whom a draw was sufficient, quite predictably shut up shop and held on to the ball without really testing Shay Given’s goal. The second half was to begin with Given picking the ball out of his own net again; fortunately for the Irish, however, Iaquinta’s header was ruled offside.

BY BRIAN QUINN

The second half was mostly without incident with the better chances falling to the Republic. Stephen Hunt replaced Aiden McGeady on 78 minutes and immediately began to worry the Italian back four. On 87 minutes he seemed to have broken free of the visitor’s defense only to be brought down on the edge of the area and winning his side a free kick. Hunt delivered into the box and the ball made its way into the back of the net via Sean St. Ledger’s head.

The reaction inside Croke Park was emphatic, with Stewarts failing to control the crowd in parts of the stadium. Victory was on the horizon; at least it seemed that way. Demonstrating the class of World Champions, the Italian’s were back on level terms through Gilardino’s unceremoniously equalizer in the 90th minute. Unbridled joy inside the arena became deathly silence, and to the unlucky Irish watching the final whistle did not signal a point earned, but two points dropped. The result means Ireland are guaranteed a play-off position for next year’s World Cup in South Africa, and having come so close to victory against the World Champions, the Republic will surely fancy their chances against any team in their path.