I’m currently tapping this (brief) post from the media centre next to the PGE Arena in Gdansk. As I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s a pretty impressive stadium:

However, with the Italy v Croatia match having just kicked off, nerves are setting in ahead of the Ireland v Spain game. Our opening game against the Croats was terribly disappointing. Everything we’ve done well under Trapattoni was thrown out of the window as the defensive solidity you’d expect from his side crumbled. Croatia were decent but Ireland were unexpectedly woeful.

A game against Spain is not really the best tonic – especially when the Spanish media is calling their draw with Italy a disaster. Hyperbole, no doubt, but if the team also think they need to make amends then it could be a long night in the rain of Gdansk.

Hopefully, we’ll be enjoying scenes similar to those we saw in New Jersey 18 years ago, but my head is telling me otherwise.

It would appear Trap has gone for the approach of packing the midfield. This may seem to make sense, to counter the tika-taka style of the Spanish, but the one place you’d think Ireland could realistically do damage is with the physicality of players like Walters and Doyle – pump high balls into the box. Perhaps that will be the plan should we get to 70 minutes and be in need of a goal.

I live more in hope than expectation for the result, but I just can’t help dreaming. Ireland abú!