Soccer Shorts:Wales manager John Toshack has warned his players about the emotion attached to this month's historic game at Croke Park.
The former Liverpool striker will lead his side out in Dublin on March 24th to mark the first soccer game at the famous ground.
"I've been to Croke Park and I'm fully informed about the history of the place, I know what went on there," said Toshack, after naming his 26-man squad for the qualifier.
"I'm sure there will be a big, big crowd and more than one tear shed before the game starts. There's going to be a lot of emotion about the place, I go to Dublin quite a bit and I see the passion they have for their football team."
WALES SQUAD: Goalkeepers: D Coyne (Burnley), P Jones (QPR), D Ward (Sunderland). Defenders: G Bale (Southampton), D Collins (Sunderland) J Collins (West Ham), R Duffy (Swansea), S Evans (Wrexham), D Gabbidon (West Ham), C Morgan (Peterborough), L Nyatanga (Barnsley), S Ricketts (Hull). Midfielders: A Crofts (Gillingham), A Davies (Yeovil), S Davies (Fulham), D Edwards (Shrewsbury), C Fletcher (Crystal Palace), J Koumas (WBA), J Ledley (Cardiff), P Parry (Cardiff), C Robinson (Toronto FC); Forwards: C Bellamy (Liverpool), D Cotterill (Wigan), J Easter (Wycombe), R Giggs (Manchester Utd, capt), C Llewellyn (Wrexham).
Zidane says non
Zinedine Zidane has turned down the opportunity to take to the pitch with Marco Materazzi for the first time since the former French player headbutted the Italian defender in last year's World Cup final.
Zidane declined the offer to line out for the Europe XI in tonight's tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. (live RTÉ 2, 8pm).
EUROPE XI PANEL: O Kahn, G Coupet, I Casillas, P Maldini, J Carragher, E Abidal, L Thuram, C Puyol, M Materazzi, F Grosso, G Zambrotta, S Gerrard, Juninho Pernambucano, F Malouda, L Miguel, G Gattuso, A Pirlo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, A Mancini, Z Ibrahimovic, H Larsson.
Ireland lose to Italy
The Republic of Ireland were defeated 4-1 by Italy yesterday in the Algarve Cup. Susan Byrne scored in the 35th-minute to cancel out Panico's opener, but the Italians put three goals past Sarah Peters in the second half.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: S Peters (Michigan), S Boyle (Raheny Utd), M Curtin (Hofstra Uni), D Caldwell (Hofstra Uni), S Byrne (St John's Col), E O'Connor (Long Island), D Thomas (Boston) M O'Brien (Long Island), A O'Gorman (Stella Maris), N Murray (Raheny), L Hislop (New Hampshire), Subs: C Scanlan (Bristol) for O'Connor (82 mins).
Tonight's Fixtures
International- South Africa v Swaziland.
Friendly- Manchester United v Europe XI.
English Championship- Coventry v Wolverhampton; Derby v QPR; Leicester v Leeds; Luton v Hull; Norwich v Birmingham; Preston v Ipswich; Sheffield Wed v Colchester; Southampton v Cardiff; Southend v Burnley; Sunderland v Stoke. League One- Bristol City v Bradford; Millwall v Crewe. Two- Milton Keynes Dons v Macclesfield.
Scottish Premier- Motherwell v Aberdeen.
