WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v FRANCE
First leg: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 14 November Kick-off: 2000 GMT Second leg: Stade de France, Paris Date: Wednesday, 18 November Kick-off: 2000 GMT Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and online, plus text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles. Also live on Sky Sports 1.

By Mark Lawrenson BBC pundit and ex-Republic of Ireland star

I know we Irish love a good debate but I still have been amazed at the criticism that has been directed from some quarters at Giovanni Trapattoni's efforts with the Republic of Ireland.

Sean St Ledger's attitude has impressed Mark Lawrenson

If you had said at the start of the group that the team would be unbeaten and in the play-off position to qualify for the World Cup, everyone would have taken it.

You hear the moans about the type of football being played but putting it bluntly, the quality doesn't matter when you are getting results.

The Republic just haven't got the players to play pretty football and that's the main demonstration of the fantastic job which Trap has done.

To those who are moaning about the lack of style, I would just say to them: "What the hell do you want?"

Do they want the Irish to be losing games 4-3 and oh... by the way, not having a chance to go to South Africa?

How many Republic players would get in the England team? Possibly, Shay Given but that would be about the height of it.

The only possible criticism anybody could direct at Trapattoni is the fact that Andy Reid is not in the squad.

I'm not saying Reid should be in the team but there should be a place in the squad for him.

Reid has done exactly what has been asked of him which was lose weight, play for Sunderland and find some form.

There's been speculation that there was some kind of falling out between Trapattoni and Reid last year, but there are fights breaking out between footballers in training every day.

I'm hopeful that there may be a rethink from Trapattoni on the Reid issue if the Irish manage to get through the play-off

Has Trapattoni never had a spat with someone in his life? Of course he has.

What I like about Reid is the way he has responded after being sent on his way from the Republic squad with his tail between his legs.

I'm hopeful that there may be a rethink from Trapattoni on the Reid issue if the Irish manage to get through the play-off.

I'm sure if you asked the other Republic players if they wanted Reid in the squad, the answer would be "yes".

But the Reid issue doesn't significantly detract from Trapattoni's brilliant work with the Irish.

He's made the team very difficult to play against - as indicated by the fact that they were only one of five European teams not to lose a match in the qualifiers.

If you watch the Republic play, you can close your eyes during the games and when they haven't got the ball, you will know where every player is.

Translating that kind of method into attacking football is a bit of a problem but 10 games unbeaten is impressive and they are not going to change their approach for the France games.

The Republic haven't got the likes of Ribery, Benzema, Henry or Anelka - players who can cut you to ribbons in 15 seconds.

But they play to their strengths by keeping it tight and trying to snatch goals at set-pieces or by producing occasional attacking bursts before retreating back into the defensive mode.

Lawrenson hopes that Trapattoni has a rethink over Andy Reid

In terms of the Irish defence, I've seen a lot of Sean St Ledger because Preston are my team although he left us for Middlesborough recently.

We signed him from Peterborough and he improved week-in week-out.

He will play in the Premier League and he's an ambitious lad who wants to better himself every day and I like that in a player.

I agree with St Ledger being played at centre-back because good as John O'Shea is, he is prone to make the odd mistake and I am happier seeing him at right-back in the Republic side.

A 0-0 draw will be a good result for the Republic at Croke Park because of the away goals rule.

With the need to keep it tight, Trapattoni may well start Liam Lawrence on the right side of midfield because he probably gives you a bit more tracking back than Aiden McGeady.

If he needs to after 65 or 70 minutes, Trapattoni could bring on McGeady or Stephen Hunt but I think Lawrence will probably start on the right flank.

Trapattoni's not a gambler and I'm sure he'll be happy with a 0-0 at Croke Park.

With France, the players always seem to run the team.

It used to be Zidane and Deschamps and now Thierry Henry appears to be calling the shots.

I don't think Raymond Domenech is a particularly good manager and but for his other role within the French Federation structure, he probably would have lost the job some time ago.

With the way Trapattoni has set the Republic up, they are difficult to beat even if they aren't playing particularly well

They have got outstanding individuals but there is no 'I' in team.

With the French, there is that element of them playing as individuals and sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.

Also if the Republic can get a 0-0 or better in Dublin, then the crowd at the Stade de France could well turn on the French players if they don't make things happen for them in the first 20 minutes in the return game.

The worry you would have about the French is that one of their big names will produce that 10 seconds of brilliance which the Republic just won't be able to do anything about.

But I am optimistic.

With the way Trapattoni has set the Republic up, they are difficult to beat even if they aren't playing particularly well.

Even if they struggling to win or hold on to possession, this current Republic team invariably doesn't give the opposition many chances.

We are a team that nobody likes to play against.

Gerard Houllier got it absolutely right straight after the play-off draw when he said:"Bad draw for France. Bad draw for Ireland."

Also during the games, in terms of turning it around, I would back Trapattoni rather than Domenech to make the right tactical calls.

If you watch Trapattoni during games, he makes very, very few tactical mistakes and I'm pretty sure that Domenech makes lots.

Mark Lawrenson was talking to BBC Sport's John Haughey

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