Soccer:The Republic of Ireland's stars in the making will have to impress off the bench in tomorrow night's friendly against the Czech Republic after manager Giovanni Trapattoni left James McClean, Shane Duffy and James McCarthy out of his starting XI.
Trapattoni has decided on a centre back pairing of Darren O’Dea and Seán St Ledger, but with Richard Dunne out injured, Everton’s Duffy could get a run in the second half.
Sunderland winger James McClean must also bide his time, with Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady named in the wide positions, either side of Trapattoni’s favoured central partnership of Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews.
Kevin Doyle has returned to Wolves due to a hamstring injury, so West Brom’s Shane Long gets a chance to impress up front, with Robbie Keane expected to play just behind him. Birmingham City midfielder Keith Fahey has also returned to his club with a hamstring problem.
Trapattoni admitted he already has his team in his head for the Euro 2012 finals.
Asked if he had more or less decided on his 23-man squad and his team already, Trapattoni said: “Sure, but I have said always that depends on injuries.
“First, we have to have respect for the players who have contributed to qualification. This group has played well and they have played always.
“Maybe if we have injuries, some of the younger players can come in, but for now, we have a squad and we have a team, and they deserve respect as a group.
“This is the last opportunity we have to consolidate our squad spirit. We want to show that we believe in these players who have brought us to the Euro 2012 finals.
“I am sure the squad all know and understand what an opportunity this is. This is a great opportunity for our national team. I will start with the group that helped us qualify for the finals tournament.
“In the second half, I may use some of the other younger players.
I have already said maybe Shane Duffy and also James McClean, because we can add them into our system to understand better what usually we do on the pitch.”
Skipper Keane insists every single member of the squad will have to maintain his standards during the months leading up to the summer festivities if they are to make the plane.
He said: “Listen, the squad hasn’t been picked yet, so everyone has got a chance.
McClean has come in [at Sunderland] and he has done exceptionally well, considering he has come from the League of Ireland and gone into the best league in the world, and stamped his authority on it and done ever so well for them.
“Duffy has played in a few games as well. As I said before, the squad is not picked and it’s up to the manager to keep an eye on players in the next three months and see how well they do.”
Meanwhile, Keane revealed a statement on players’ bonuses for the tournament will be released within days after scotching speculation over a brewing row between the squad and the Football Association of Ireland.
He said: “There’s no problem at all. There will be a statement coming out in the next couple of days.
“The statement will be coming out and everything, I am sure, will be very, very clear. It was a very short meeting, that’s all I will say, and very positive.”
Republic of Ireland (v Czech Republic):Shay Given (Aston Villa); John O'Shea (Sunderland), Seán St Ledger (Leicester City), Darren O'Dea (Leeds United), Stephen Ward (Wolves); Damien Duff (Fulham), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Keith Andrews (West Bromwich Albion), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow); Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Shane Long (West Bromwich Albion). Substitutes: To be named.
