I think its been generally acknowledged it was Mick McCarthy fault for not having the proper facilities in Saipan that saw us lose out on the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Hey. I said that to you at the weekend.
I know there is multiple other threads on the matter but have any of ye finalised your travel plans for the euros?
being superbly organised, I booked a one way flight to berlin and have loosely agreed to 3 weeks off work. have discussed with another member of our party the other days. thinking berlin until the 10th. hire car then for next 2 weeks. stay nearish to poznan on the 10th. accomodation looks crazy expensive. hit up north on the 11th. prob stop in torun. aim for gdansk around the 12th for the northern poland leg. no tickets for the spain game yet. hoping to get in the masurian lake district and malbork castle in that leg. back round poznan for the italy game on the 18th. after that head south which aside from the football is the bit I’m looking forward to. every polski Ive met has told me to stay out of auschwitz as it will destroy the holiday but going to go anyway. defo going to that wieliczka salt mine and hopefully dunajec river rafting too. from the limited research Ive done, the south of poland seems to have more going for it. really looking forward to krakow.
we were hoping to get southern poland done between games but with only 3 days in between the games it would be cutting it tight. afraid we might be arsing around now a bit though between gdansk and poznan.
does anyone know re poznan - is there public transport going all the night, i.e. can you stay somewhere remotely reasonably priced outside the city and get there handy enough? same question re gdansk?
Moved to Euro 2012 Arrangements thread…
Stephen Hunt is now doubtful for the Euro’s due to a groin injury. While he is a decent option off the bench it is one of the few places that we have a bit of depth. McClean will surely be the man to replace him if he doesn’t make it
This is a blessing in disguise…
Interesting. I don’t think he’s good enough for the squad in general but in fairness he has offered a change of pace off the bench so is often the first change made when we need something different. I don’t think we’d be weakened by his absence if he doesn’t make it, given the other options.
Huzzah.
KIB man will be gutted.
Shouldnt he be back after 2 weeks once the operation goes to plan?
yep will be very disappointed for hunt if he doesnt make it. has had many a fine game at international level despite his limitations.
From todays Indo.
GIOVANNI Trapattoni has admitted that he may have to leave young stars like James McCarthy[/url] and Seamus Coleman out of his [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Euro_2012”]Euro 2012 squad, stressing that he needs to think short-term when picking his final 23 for Poland.
The Italian already knows the majority of his squad and says there are just two or three places up for grabs. Realistically, it could come down to a straight fight between McCarthy, Coleman, Sunderland[/url]'s James McClean and Derby’s [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Paul_Green”]Paul Green for the final spot.
McCarthy shone for Wigan in Wednesday’s shock win over Manchester United[/url], but Trapattoni is unsure how many central midfielders he can bring to the finals with [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Glenn_Whelan”]Glenn Whelan[/url], [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Keith_Andrews_%28footballer%29”]Keith Andrews[/url], [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Darron_Gibson_%28footballer%29”]Darron Gibson[/url] and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Keith_Fahey”]Keith Fahey all looking to be ahead of the Glaswegian in the pecking order.
“I have two or three decisions to make,” said Trapattoni yesterday.
“McCarthy, Coleman, players like that. I have to make a decision. And I do not forget them for the next campaign, for the World Cup. But we have to decide the best for now.”
Trapattoni’s assistant Marco Tardelli will travel to watch McClean next week and the Irish boss says he could still make the plane.
“I said that it was important to give a chance to the players who helped us achieve qualification, but I also said it was important to leave one or two spaces for the new group, the next generation, and sure there is a possibility for players like this,” he added.
One player who won’t be making the trip is Norwich’s Wes Hoolahan.
However, Trap did praise his contribution this year and believes the playmaker is much improved. He indicated that he might include Hoolahan in his World Cup thoughts, although it would require a change of system.
“When I called him up first (in 2008) the team was too small. We had players like Wes and Andy Reid, they were too little. But Hoolahan, I have spoken to Marco about him, he has been fantastic.”
"He (Hoolahan) is not a young player. He’s 30, and he played well in the last game I saw, in a specialist position behind the strikers.
“I have thought about him and we will consider this option – we have a system and maybe it’s too late to change that system. Maybe he will be there for the next campaign for the World Cup.”
Trapattoni again reiterated that all is well with Richard Dunne[/url]. The big defender did not travel to the [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/United_States_national_football_team”]United States[/url] as planned – he was due to undergo rehab work on his broken collar-bone at [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/National_Football_League”]NFL[/url] outfit [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Cleveland_Browns”]Cleveland Browns[/url] – and instead stayed in [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/England_national_football_team”]England to see his specialist.
“The recovery from his operation is going well,” said Trapattoni.
He also reported that Stephen Hunt is in good health and is not concerned about players who have been out of action.
“Once they come in with us in May, they will be fine after three or four days. It’s better they are fresh for us.”
Trapattoni was speaking in Montecatini, near Florence, where the Irish team will train for seven days before travelling to a friendly in Hungary and then on to Poland. He confirmed that his team will be training twice a day in a facility he is extremely satisfied with.
“The climate is fantastic,” he said. "Not too hot and not too cold. It’s a beautiful place for our players to come and see and I’m sure they will have a good time.
“We’re here to work but they will be able to see the city. We will have two training sessions a day. It’s all about hard work now. The pitch and training ground is fantastic. We’ll have no problems here.”
This report is from RTÉ. I imagine quotes are from the same press conference as chewy posted above. Dunne seems confident all the time about returning but ideally would be good if he could get more than a game under his belt in EPL. He’ll be well rested anyway. He never seems overly bothered about playing for Aston Villa must say. McGeady could well do with few games also. A lot of our key players won’t be suffering from burnout due to too many matches anyways. Having said that have to be mindful they don’t over train in Florence as has been the mistake with other teams prior to tournaments.
Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has admitted he faces an agonising series of decisions as he attempts to finalise his squad for Euro 2012.
The 73-year-old Italian has indicated that the 23 men who board the plane for Poland in June will be drawn from those who helped the Republic qualify, and that could mean an anxious wait for the likes of James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman, who have had limited game time.
Trapattoni was speaking during an inspection tour of the facilities in Montecatini, Italy, where the Irish will hold their pre-tournament training camp.
He said: "We have 27 or 28 players and it will be a great pity, a great pity, when we have to decide on the 23, to decide on this player or that player.
"The squad is very important to me and they deserve to come with us, they helped us achieve qualification. But I have to decide which players deserve to come with us.
"We are watching games all the time. (Assistant manager) Marco (Tardelli) will be at Sunderland v Wolves at the weekend.
"We have time until a few days before the tournament starts and we can change if there is injury, and then maybe we could do with these extra players.
“I have two or three decisions to make. McCarthy, Coleman, players like that, I have to make a decision and I do not forget them for the next campaign, for the World Cup, but we have to decide the best for now.”
Trapattoni drafted in-form Sunderland winger James McClean into the squad for the first time for February’s friendly against the Czech Republic, and he too will anxiously await the final decision.
But the former Italy boss also revealed he and Tardelli have been keeping an eye on the progress of 29-year-old Norwich midfielder Wes Hoolahan, who has impressed during the Canaries’ first campaign back in the Barclays Premier League.
He said: "I have spoken to Marco about him, he has been fantastic. We have already James McCarthy and McClean. This is not the campaign for too many young players, but Hoolahan is not young, he is (nearly) 30.
"We think about him. He played well in the last game I saw. He played in a specialist position behind the strikers.
"I have thought about him and we will consider this option. We have a system and maybe it’s too late to change that system.
“I don’t forget Hoolahan and maybe he will be there for the next campaign for the World Cup.”
Several of Trapattoni’s key men, including strikers Kevin Doyle, Shane Long and Simon Cox, have not been regular starters for their clubs in recent weeks, although the Ireland boss is confident their lack of football will not be an issue.
He is more concerned about those who are currently injured, with central defender Richard Dunne’s recovery from a fractured collar bone the major issue.
Trapattoni said: "I am optimistic about Richard Dunne. Two days ago I was in touch with him and he was very confident.
"He said to me, ‘Giovanni, I am well, I am sure I can play in the last game in the Premier League’. The recovery from his operation is going well.
"I was in touch (on Wednesday) with [Stoke midfielder] Glenn Whelan because he didn’t play in their last game, but he said he was okay, the manager just wanted to leave him on the bench.
"And I also checked with Stephen Hunt. We spoke to the doctor at his club (Wolves), but he is sure he can be fit for us.
“I spoke to John O’Shea, he said he had an injury but he will be ready for the next game. I have also been in touch with Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady and McGeady says he is fine.”
Anyone willing to give an update on our group opponents? A prediction of what their starting teams are likely to be for the tournament as things currently stand?
I will try and do Italy during the week Bandage.
Good stuff. I’ll stick it on the front page.
Nice one Totti.
Surely Puke or Sid will do Spain.
Maybe Kid Chocolate or tallback could do Croatia.
I will do something on Spain later in the week, but the big news out of the Spanish camp this week is that Raul is in line for a recall if David Villa doesn’t make it according to Del Bosque.
What chance a call up for Eamon Zayed? The PFAI 2011 Player of the Year is scoring loads of goals at Persepolis of Iran (apparently a bit of a hero there now) and is the current leading scorer in the 2012 Asian Champions League.
Slight problem in that he’s a Libyan international, but he played underage for Ireland.
I’m sure TASE and others will remember his goal scoring exploits at Sporting Fingal.
He could be the ideal back up for the semi retired Robbie Keane…
Fucking hell, what is fisty shiteing on about now, a Libyan Intl plaing for Ireland, WTF?! :lol:
Anyhoo…bad news
The Republic of Ireland will be wearing their traditional green jerseys when they take on World and European champions Spain at this summer’s European Championships in Poland.
It had been thought that they would wear their white away kit in the game at the impressive PGE Arena in Gdansk on 14 June.
However, the FAI confirmed to journalists during a trip to the stadium that Ireland would line out in their first-choice green kit even though Spain are the designated home team.
FIFA and UEFA had previously sought to avoid both teams playing in dark or light shirts, as it made it more difficult for people watching on black and white television to distinguish between the two teams.
Ireland will now only wear the away kit in the final group game against Italy in Poznan on Monday 18 June.
However, those who believe in omens will be worried at Ireland wearing white in what could be a crucial game.
Ireland have been wearing white when they have been knocked out of their past three tournaments in 1990 (Italy), 1994 (Netherlands) and 2002 (Spain).
As well as hosting the Ireland-Spain encounter, the magnificent PGE Arena will stage Spain’s other two games against Italy and Croatia, and one quarter-final on 22 June.
While some construction work around the ground has yet to be completed, the €150m amber-clad venue, representing the mining tradition in the area, is ready to go for the tournament.
The stadium was opened in September 2011 and has already hosted its first international between Poland and Germany earlier this year.
The general capacity for the European Championships has been reduced from 42,000 to 40,000, but the steep seating will provide uninterrupted views of the action for those lucky enough to have a ticket.
Home team Lechia Gdansk will play another three games on the pitch before it is dug up at the end of the season and replaced by a new playing surface.
A stadium spokesman confirmed that this was always the plan and the process is currently at the tendering stage.
Inside, the facilities for the players are what would be expected at this level, with the large dressing rooms, warm-up areas and even a Jacuzzi.
The PGE Arena’s chapel is also expected to be much in use during the four matches at the stadium.
The small, intimate, non-denominational chapel offers players and managers a chance to step back from the pressure of the upcoming game or reflect on a performance.
There will also be two priests on hand at the stadium for any players or managers seeking divine intervention or any match officials seeking contrition.
Rocko, I’m after slaving over this during my lunch hour, where shall I post it up?