New caps give Trapattoni fresh hopes for the future
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Two managers. Two tales of contrasting returns. Stanimir Stoilov is first to face the music, no trace of his emotion in his tanned, impassive features.
The wistfulness is in his words, though, and they lose nothing in the translation. Stoilov knows his team has taken a hit in the Vasil Levski Stadium. He is gracious about Ireland, pragmatic when it comes to his own.
"After we scored our goal then we really dominated on the ground," he says. "But we couldn't win this game. We're too many points behind now. It's not up to us anymore. Our rivals have to make mistakes now. There is no other way for us."
He spends time discussing the game, wondering ruefully why his team couldn't press home their advantage after forcing the equaliser, acknowledging Ireland's fortitude and in heaping praise on Bulgaria's devoted fans, wittily puts the performance of his own side in perspective. "The audience was our best player in the game," he says. "I hope our players will be catching up with the audience."
Then comes Giovanni. There is more wit and laughter. The Italian is a famously pragmatic man but his delight is barely cloaked here.
"This is very, very important for us," he says in English that, like his team, is improving all the time. "I think Bulgaria is a very great team. After we conceded the goal we are a little bit afraid to lose the game. This evening I am happy for a good result but also because I know new players now. I am conscious we have a better squad. Ten months ago I thought I had only a few players, a little squad."
From a fine collective team performance players are singled out. What about Sean St Ledger? "Somebody asked me on Friday what I think about St Ledger. St Ledger? You saw this evening what he is. He's a clever player. The same about Leon Best. And Caleb. I think he repeated the performance he showed against Nigeria. I hope in future we can try two or three new players and to test them in the friendly game in August."
And Richard Dunne? "Every game he is less anxious now. He played easier, played the ball strong. He anticipates the game. Also today he was the best player on the pitch."
The players praised and the game parsed, it's natural to wonder about the fans now and how ready they should be for a long trip next summer. Giovanni sighs. But it's not a displeased sigh.
"Naturally I believe," he says. "I believe it's important we believe. I was confident. Every game I am more confident. There are more games but now I am more confident because I think this game was always going to be more difficult than the Italy game. They showed that tonight when we conceded the goal so soon after scoring and I was a bit afraid we would lose the game.
"But I am happy now with the good result. We have a long way to go yet before we can talk about South Africa. I have always said that it will be a long qualifying campaign, but I am happy with this result."
He ends with some comic touches: explaining to a hack his frustration at the positioning of Best and Folan up front and apologises for making it sound like a football lesson. Then there's an exchange with a Bulgarian about Ireland's chances of making South Africa, anything between 50 and 90 per cent depending on which translation you went with.
With typical pragmatism, he says he'll let the hack decides and, smiling, he makes his way to the door.
- JOHN O'BRIEN
