Venue isn’t selected yet I don’t think. It’s next October. I’ve seen both Cologne and Munich mentioned - not sure if one is confirmed and one was just rumoured.
Cologne on October 11, 2013 was announced some months back.
KIB Man making some seriously bad suggestions in this thread. Ward to centre midfield? Deary me.
Thank you lads. Koln is a grand spot for a match
THE Germans are coming and this time they’re bringing their boots.
This afternoon, Giovanni Trapattoni[/url] begins preparations for the biggest home game of [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Republic_of_Ireland_national_football_team”]Ireland’s[/url] World Cup campaign with major question marks remaining over the health of [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Richard_Dunne”]Richard Dunne.
The Italian is expected to name the 33-year-old in his squad for the visit of Germany[/url] on October 12 and the trip to face the Faroe Islands four days later, but he must already be making contingency plans in case [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Richard_Dunne”]Dunne doesn’t make it back in time for what is arguably the toughest test of his reign.
Taking on Spain[/url], [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Italy_national_football_team”]Italy[/url] and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Croatia_national_football_team”]Croatia at last summer’s European Championships was difficult but, to some extent, the manager had done his job by qualifying in the first place and was thus in bonus territory.
After surviving a near disaster in Astana, the pressure is on to get a result next month but taking the ruthless Germans on without Dunne – as well as Shay Given[/url] and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Damien_Duff”]Damien Duff --will be a mammoth task.
Trap’s side struggled most when facing the quick-moving Russians in their Euro qualification group and against Spain’s passing masters in June. Germany combine both facets in their game and, with Trapattoni seeming reluctant to alter his system, the visitors could really hurt their hosts.
Joachim Loew[/url]'s team are a consistent force on the international scene and have been semi-finalists or better at every major tournament since the 2006 World Cup. Germany nearly always top their qualifying group and, as a result, Group C looks like a battle between [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Sweden_national_football_team”]Sweden[/url], Austria and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Republic_of_Ireland_national_football_team”]Ireland for second place and a play-off spot.
In that light, taking a point or three against the group favourites could prove the difference, with the Austrians going close on the opening weekend when losing 2-1 to their neighbours.
Ireland’s chances may revolve around Dunne’s[/url] availability. His [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Aston_Villa”]Aston Villa[/url] manager [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Paul_Lambert”]Paul Lambert[/url] poured cold water on the prospect of him returning for next week’s [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Barclays_Premier_League”]Premier League[/url] meeting with [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Tottenham_Hotspur”]Spurs, meaning he could turn up in Dublin with no matches under his belt after suffering a groin injury at the Euros.
Going up against one of the world’s most potent attacks with a central defensive partnership of a Championship player in Sean St Ledger[/url] and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Darren_O”]Darren O’Dea[/url] (of the not-so-well-known [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Major_League_Soccer”]MLS[/url] outfit [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Toronto_FC”]Toronto FC) will set Trapattoni’s heart fluttering.
The italian looks set to pick an extended squad, with Keith Andrews[/url] and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Keith_Fahey”]Keith Fahey being added to those who were involved last time out.
Trapattoni indicated that Andy Keogh[/url] could start against the Germans in the wake of the friendly win over [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Oman”]Oman[/url], while Robbie Brady and James McClean are likely to be named along with [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Seamus_Coleman”]Seamus Coleman[/url] and Aiden [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Aiden_McGeady”]McGeady for the wing positions.
Andrews and Fahey come back into contention in midfield after missing the near-disaster in Kazakhstan[/url], with [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Bolton_Wanderers”]Bolton Wanderers[/url] man Andrews expected to fight it out with James [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/James_McCarthy”]McCarthy for a starting berth.
The strikers are likely to remain the same as the last time out, with all five – Robbie Keane[/url], [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Kevin_Doyle”]Kevin Doyle[/url], [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Jonathan_Walters_(footballer)”]Jonathan Walters[/url], [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Simon_Cox_(footballer)”]Simon Cox[/url] and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Shane_Long”]Shane Long – in form for their clubs and battling hard for the starting spot.
Alex Pearce and Shane Duffy could be on alert in the event that Dunne doesn’t make it, but we will know more when Trapattoni gives his all-important update on the Tallaght native’s fitness this afternoon.
Probable Squad – Westwood (Sunderland[/url]), Forde (Milwall), Randolph ([url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Motherwell_FC”]Motherwell[/url]); Dunne (Aston Villa), O’Shea (Sunderland), O’Dea ([url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Toronto”]Toronto[/url]), St Ledger ([url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Leicester_City_F.C.”]Leicester City[/url]), Ward ([url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Wolverhampton_Wanderers”]Wolves[/url]), Kelly ([url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Fulham”]Fulham[/url]), Wilson (Stoke), McShane (Hull); O’Brien ([url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/West_Ham_United”]West Ham[/url]), Andrews (Bolton Wanderers), Fahey ([url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Birmingham_City_FC”]Birmingham[/url]), Whelan (Stoke), McCarthy (Wigan), Brady ([url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Manchester_United”]Manchester United[/url]), Keogh (Milwall), McClean (Sunderland), McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Coleman (Everton); Cox (Nottingham Forest), Walters (Stoke), Keane (LA Galaxy), [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Kevin_Doyle”]Doyle (Wolves), Long (West Brom).
- Ruaidhri O’Connor
Irish Independent
Is he suggesting Keogh will be starting on the wing? Seems unlikely to me, though there is a vacancy there.
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Richard Dunne has been left out of the Ireland squad to face Germany and the Faroe Islands in the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualification double header in October.[/size][/font]
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Talismanic defender Dunne has been struggling with a groin injury and has yet to feature for his club Aston Villa this season.[/size][/font]
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The defender will be given every chance to recover in time and has been placed on a stand-by list, alongside young midfielder Robbie Brady.[/size][/font]
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Also missing from the squad is Everton’s Darron Gibson, who declined his place in the previous Ireland squad because of his disappointment over being left out of the Euro 2012 squad.[/size][/font]
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Gibson is currently out of action with a thigh injury but it is unclear whether the midfielder was omitted due to that injury or not.[/size][/font]
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Bolton Wanderers midfielder Keith Andrews returns to the Irish fold after missing the narrow victory in Kazakhstan through suspension, while Keith Fahey – who was also absent for that clash – returns too.[/size][/font]
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Ireland were lucky to take all three points from their opening game in Kazakhstan, but Trapattoni insists they now a platform to build on.[/size][/font]
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The Ireland manager said, "As we face these important games, we will hope to build on the three points we gained in Kazakhstan.[/size][/font]
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“Our first game against Germany will be a difficult challenge and the home support will play an important part. We must also remember that we have two matches, and we will be focussing on every detail to pick up points on our journey to qualification for Brazil.”[/size][/font]
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Republic of Ireland squad: Keiren Westwood, David Forde, Darren Randolph, Marc Wilson, John O’Shea, Sean St. Ledger, Darren O’Dea, Stephen Ward, Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane, Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, Keith Andrews, Keith Fahey, Seamus Coleman, Aiden McGeady, Andy Keogh, James McClean, Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Simon Cox, Jon Walters[/size][/font]
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Standby List: Richard Dunne, Robbie Brady[/size][/font]
David Meyler also misses out, as do the likes of Joey O’Brien and Alex Pearce.
Are tickets still available for this lads? Is it likely to sell out?
http://www.ticketmaster.ie/event/180048A9D08883C3?artistid=1123642&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=741
There you go pal-still seems to be a good few left.
Disappointed that Meyler didn’t make the squad. Can’t argue with Andrews or Fahey coming back I suppose (particularly Andrews) but thought we could have found room for Meyler who did well the last time, though he needs to get regular football at Sunderland.
Yeah thought Meyler should be in myself. Should get some game time with Cattermole suspended now.
What has Keogh ever contributed?
Positive vibes and the ability to never, ever be injured.
I’ll be in Albufeira on this date. Any of you boyos know a decent Irish bar for watching it in?
Kevin Doyle is out of this game apparently. Disappointing after his return to form in the last match.
Meyler has been called up to the squad. Doyle is not a confirmed absentee yet but it looks likely. Happy to see Meyler involved again.
Germany named their squad today. Schweinsteiger comes back after injury but Gomez is out (he’s rumoured to be out until Christmas). Klose is their only striker with Podolski and Reus covering that position.
[quote=“Rocko, post: 711543”]Meyler has not been called up to the squad. Doyle is not a confirmed absentee yet but it looks likely. Happy to see Meyler involved again.
[/quote]
:strokechin:
Bizarre error corrected now
Someone told me in the pub the other night that Germany, and West Germany in their former guise, have never lost a World Cup qualifying match away from home. Is this true?
Feel free to work the internet for yourself to find out.
I’ll be in attendance for this game with a genuine germanic punk. Looking forward to educating him on the unplayed geniuses of meyler coleman and brady etc.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using TFK App
KEVIN DOYLE will find out today if he will be able to play any part in next Friday’s World Cup qualifier with Germany.
The Wolves striker is a major doubt after sustaining a thigh injury in training yesterday, and Wolves boss Stale Solbakken immediately indicated that he would miss today’s Championship meeting with Blackburn and the international double-header with Germany and the Faroe Islands.
However, the Wexford native went for a scan last night, hoping that it would reveal some good news with a view to his Irish prospects.
Doyle was the match winner in Astana last month, creating one goal and scoring the other as Ireland[/url] came from behind to seal a valuable win over [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Kazakhstan”]Kazakhstan.
He started that game on the bench, with Giovanni Trapattoni[/url]favouring [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Jonathan_Walters_(footballer)”]Jonathan Walters, but would have fancied his chances of getting the nod for the showdown with the group’s top seeds.
The only consolation for the Irish boss if Doyle (below) does miss out is that he has more options up front than in other areas.
In addition to Walters and skipper Robbie Keane[/url], his squad also includes in-form [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/West_Bromwich_Albion_FC”]West Brom[/url] striker [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Shane_Long”]Shane Long[/url] and Championship duo [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Simon_Cox_(footballer)”]Simon Cox[/url] and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Andy_Keogh”]Andy Keogh.
Sunderland[/url] midfielder [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/David_Meyler”]David Meyler has been called into the squad as cover, which perhaps gives an insight into Trapattoni’s thinking ahead of the German fixture.
He is considering starting that match with three central midfielders, which would mean a regular striker missing out. Otherwise, Glenn Whelan[/url], [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Keith_Andrews_(footballer)”]Keith Andrews[/url] and [url=“http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/James_McCarthy”]James McCarthywill battle it out for two spots.
Meanwhile, the FAI have confirmed that general admission tickets for the Germany game in Aviva Stadium on Friday have sold out. There are a limited number of premium tickets left for the game.
- Daniel McDonnell
Irish Independent