Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING/REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD:HAVING WORKED hard to achieve a settled side before the Republic of Ireland’s bigger group games came around, Giovanni Trapattoni managed to go a step further yesterday by naming an almost unchanged squad for the meetings with Bulgaria (March 28th) and Italy (April 1s t).

The addition of Darren O’Dea is the only change by the Italian, who turns 70 today, to the 25 selected last month for the visit of Georgia. Steve Finnan, who subsequently withdrew from that squad, returns, as does Caleb Folan, but Trapattoni said three or four players will be trimmed from the panel over the next week or so after which they will provide back-up in the event of injuries or suspensions arising out of the opening game of the double header.