Fitzgerald warns of Vonlanthen threat
Republic of Ireland Under-21 defender John Fitzgerald believes communication will be the key if Brian Kerr’s senior squad are to stop young Swiss sensation Johann Vonlanthen.
Blackburn centre-back Fitzgerald first came across Vonlanthen – the Swiss striker who is younger even than Wayne Rooney – on his U-21 debut 11 months ago.
Although Fitzgerald won that particular battle as Ireland emerged 2-0 victors, PSV Eindhoven striker Vonlanthen has since graduated to coach Kobi Kuhn’s full squad.
Vonlanthen became the youngest goalscorer in European Championships history when he netted what proved to be a consolation strike in a 3-1 defeat to France during the finals in Portugal in the summer.
The 18-year-old has since become a key member of Kuhn’s side and warmed up for the World Cup qualifying clash against Ireland in Basle on Wednesday with a hat-trick in Saturday’s 6-0 demolition of the Faroe Islands.
Fitzgerald is urging Kerr’s boys to simply talk to one another to halt Vonlanthen in his tracks, as he said: “He plays up front, but has a tendency to drop off. He can go and sit in between midfield and attack which causes problems for defenders, so it’s all about coming to terms with that.
“All I would say is that communication is the key. It’s all about the midfielders and defenders talking to one another and making sure he is not allowed any space.”
Fitzgerald, meanwhile, feels the Republic Under-21s can repeat last year’s success on Swiss soil and maintain their unbeaten record.
Manager Don Givens’ side started their bid to reach their first European Championship finals on Friday with a straightforward 3-0 triumph over Cyprus, stretching their undefeated streak to 13 matches.
It was a result mirrored by their senior counterparts at Lansdowne Road less than 24 hours later as Kerr’s squad embarked on the road to the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006 in equally comfortable fashion.
As with the senior squad, the home and away matches against Switzerland appear key to the Republic youngsters’ hopes of qualifying from group four which they currently head after France could only open up with a 1-0 win over Israel.
Unlike the seniors, however, the Under-21s were triumphant last year and now harbour ambitions of another win at the Stadium Neufeld in Bern tomorrow.
Fitzgerald added: “This game is the big one for us. I played out there last year, winning my first cap, and it was a very tough game. We did well to get the result.
“But I’m sure we will carry the confidence from that win into this game. We have the experience of winning out there, so there’s no reason why we can’t do it again.”
