Has Trapattoni One More Trick Up His Sleeve?

They were queuing up to insist their nation's World Cup dream is not dead. It is not unknown for players to pull down the shutters and make themselves scarce after defeat, but the Ireland camp were out facing the cameras within an hour of their devastating setback to France.

Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne and Kevin Doyle spoke in defiant mood how Giovanni Trapattoni's side can still reach South Africa.

Of course they can. It is only the proverbial half time in the two-legged tie and stranger things have happened. But only the most optimistic supporter will truly believe Ireland can qualify for next summer's tournament after a 1-0 first leg play-off setback at Croke Park.

The truth is it will require something truly exceptional, something breathtaking if Ireland are to overturn the single goal deficit in Paris on Wednesday.

The trouble is Ireland's best chance is gone.

France might be in the grip of a mini crisis after failing to secure automatic qualification and Raymond Domenech, their under-fire coach, might be the most unpopular man in his nation.

But the 1998 world champions ought to have enough gears now for Ireland's engine to cope.

While Domenech has the resources to tinker with the side which dug him out of a hole in Dublin, Trapattoni has few, if any, additional options available to him to rescue the tie.

While France have a Plan C and a Plan D, Ireland do not even have a Plan B.

Even if Aiden McGeady is recalled to the side in place of Liam Lawrence, is that going to be enough to turn the tie upside down?

Instead Trapattoni is going to have to draw on his vast experience to guide the green nation to the World Cup.

The Italian has 15 European trophies to his name, has managed some of the biggest clubs in Europe and emerged from a difficult qualifying campaign with Ireland unbeaten.

Has the 70-year-old master tactician got one more trick up his sleeve?

Keane seems to think so.

"There's no question we can do it on Wednesday. We've been to big teams like Italy and got results," said the Ireland captain.

"It's not going to be easy but we have to believe. We have to go there, we have to get a goal and hopefully we can get two and not concede.

"France didn't create too many chances but the one that counted cost us a little bit. We created a few chances, maybe not clear-cut chances but certainly half chances."