Soccer:Séamus Coleman and Jonathan Walters have returned to the Republic of Ireland squad for the final two Euro 2012 qualifiers next month. Coleman missed the recent draws with Slovakia and Russia through injury but has since returned to action with Everton.
Walters was dropped for those games, seemingly as a result of missing pre-season friendlies, but the Stoke striker has earned a recall for the meetings in Andorra (October 7th) and the home clash with Armenia (October 11th) that will decide Ireland’s Euro 2012 fate.
Ireland trail Russia by two points at the top of Group B but have the easier run-in, on paper at least, as Dick Advocaat's side have to visit Slovakia. Even if Ireland do not top the group, six points from their final two games would guarantee a place in the play-offs.
"It is vital that we keep focused as we reach our final two games of this campaign," Trapattoni said this morning. "We will approach them one game at a time. It is also important for us to concentrate on our own results, rather than what is happening in the group. We do not underestimate any of our opponents.
“Andorra might be last in the table but I saw their last game and they are a very dangerous side. They are quick and tough and the pitch in Andorra is difficult to play on. To win, we need to give 10 per cent more than we’ve given so far.”
Wigan midfielder James McCarthy, omitted from Trapattoni’s original selection before being added for the trip to Moscow, is also included in today’s 27-man panel. There is no place for Burnley’s Keith Treacy but Kevin Foley is named despite struggling with an ankle injury.
Trapattoni also confirmed that Robbie Keane will not join up with the rest of the squad until after the LA Galaxy’s match against the New York Red Bulls on the Tuesday before the Andorra game. That MLS game will be played just 72 hours before the kick-off in Andorra but Trapattoni dismissed suggestions his captain might be fatigued.
“I don’t’ think it’s a problem for a young man of 30 years to sleep for one night on a plane,” he added.
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers
Shay Given (Aston Villa), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland), David Forde (Millwall)
Defenders
John O'Shea (Sunderland), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Stephen Ward (Wolves), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Kevin Kilbane (Derby), Sean St Ledger ( Leicester City), Darren O'Dea (Leeds Utd), Damien Delaney (Ipswich Town)
Midfielders
Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic) Seamus Coleman (Everton), Keith Andrews (Ipswich Town) Keith Fahey, (Birmingham City), Andy Keogh (Leeds), Damien Duff (Fulham), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Stephen Hunt (Wolves), Liam Lawrence (Portsmouth)
Attackers
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Shane Long (WBA), Simon Cox (WBA), Jon Walters (Stoke).
