Trap names the squad

Last updated : 17 March 2009 By Paul Jennings
Giovanni Trapattoni named his 26 man squad to face Bulgaria on March 28th with a trip to Italy four days later. Scottish League Cup winner and scorer Darren O'Dea and Wolves defender Kevin Foley get the nod to join the Irish panel. Andy Reid is still absent from the squad and his future under this manager looks very bleak.

Trapattoni said on www.fai.ie


"So far in this group, Bulgaria have drawn all of their three World Cup qualifying matches. I have no doubt they will be invigorated by the appointment of their new manager, Stanimir Stoilov, and they will come to Croke Park looking for a win to kick-start their World Cup qualifying campaign."

"Bulgaria have a strong tradition of football in their country with many well known players in their squad so we are under no illusion as to the task that awaits us on March 28. This game represents a real opportunity to open a significant gap at the top of the table in group 8. For the next six months we will be playing away so strong support in this last home game until October will be vital. Every point gained will be valuable in the race to qualify for South Africa."

The Republic of Ireland 26 man squad

Name

Club

Date of Birth

Caps

Goals

Goalkeepers

Shay Given

Manchester City

20/04/1976

92

0

Dean Kiely

West Brom

10/10/1970

11

0

Keiren Westwood

Coventry City

23/10/1984

0

0

Defenders

Alex Bruce

Ipswich Town

28/09/1984

2

0

Damien Delaney

QPR

20/07/1981

2

0

John O'Shea

Manchester United

30/04/1981

51

1

Kevin Foley

Wolves

01/11/1984

0

0

Paul McShane

Sunderland

06/01/1986

14

0

Richard Dunne

Manchester City

21/09/1979

48

5

Stephen Kelly

Birmingham City

06/09/1983

13

0

Steve Finnan

Espanyol

20/04/1976

53

2

Kevin Kilbane

Hull City

01/02/1977

93

7

Darren O'Dea

Celtic

04/02/1987

0

0

Midfielders

Aiden McGeady

Glasgow Celtic

04/04/1986

23

0

Damien Duff

Newcastle United

02/03/1979

72

7

Darron Gibson

Manchester United

25/10/1987

4

0

Glenn Whelan

Stoke City

13/01/1984

8

1

Keith Andrews

Blackburn Rovers

13/09/1980

2

1

Liam Miller

QPR

13/02/1981

19

1

Stephen Hunt

Reading

01/08/1981

16

1

Andy Keogh

Wolves

16/05/1986

9

1

Strikers

Caleb Folan

Hull City

26/10/1982

2

0

Kevin Doyle

Reading

18/09/1983

24

6

Robbie Keane

Tottenham Hotspur

08/07/1980

86

37

Shane Long

Reading

22/01/1987

9

3

Noel Hunt

Reading

26/12/1982

1

0

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