Ben Blake reports from Cork
IN JUST OVER 24 hours, Martin O’Neill will have to submit the names of 23 players he wishes to bring to France.
The Uefa deadline closes at 11pm Irish time tomorrow night — 90 minutes after the full-time whistle goes in Ireland’s final friendly against Belarus at Turner’s Cross.
“For a number of players, there are a couple of things to it (the warm-up game),” O’Neill said after today’s training session in Cork. “One or two players who think that they might be in danger of not being in the squad have a chance to play.
For a couple of others who I think we would all agree are pretty well certain to go, it’s a chance to get a game under their belt.”
While many of the 24 managers heading to Euro 2016 have already announced their squads, the Ireland boss has opted to leave the final decision to the very last minute.
Most of the places are pretty much nailed on at this stage. We know Darren Randolph will be number one with Shay Given and David Forde shoe-ins to be acting as back-ups. Yes, Keiren Westwood can feel hard done by but this management team clearly don’t rate him as highly as the rest of us do.
The eight defenders — Seamus Coleman, Cyrus Christie, John O’Shea, Ciaran Clark, Shane Duffy, Richard Keogh, Robbie Brady and Stephen Ward currently involved will make the trip barring any fresh injuries.
Midfield is where it gets a bit trickier. Glenn Whelan, Wes Hoolahan, Jeff Hendrick, James McClean and Aiden McGeady (despite his lack of regular football with Sheffield Wednesday in recent times) are all sure things.
Everton’s James McCarthy would be in the same bracket but he sat out training all last week with hamstring trouble and today trained away from the rest of the team as he attempts to regain his fitness.
O’Neill has in the past spoke of his willingness to include one or two players who are still not quite 100% two weeks out from the opening Group E game against Sweden and McCarthy could end up being such a player.
Elsewhere in the centre of the park, there are a couple of question marks. Harry Arter showed glimpses of what he can bring to the table in Friday night’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands and there is no doubting his quality.
The Ireland manager is a big fan of his work rate, ability on the ball and eye for a goal, which will work in his favour, but he pulled out of training with a thigh complaint earlier on so we’ll have to wait and see the results of the scan.
Hull City’s David Meyler was back in his hometown of Cork after arriving from the Championship play-off final at Wembley over the weekend. He may not feature as regularly as he would like for Ireland but O’Neill believes he can rely on him and often praises his versatility.
And while Stephen Quinn did his chances no harm with an industrious performance against the Dutch, Meyler might be slight favourite to squeeze in there ahead of the Reading midfielder.
Of the other midfielders, the likelihood is that Darron Gibson and Eunan O’Kane could be the unlucky ones.
The situation up front was made a little more complicated by today’s news that Robbie Keane picked up a calf injury over the weekend meaning he won’t play against Belarus.
Keane’s involvement in the tournament would almost certainly have been from the bench with Shane Long, Jon Walters and Daryl Murphy all ahead of him in the pecking order these days.
But what a shame it would be for the most capped player in Ireland’s history to be robbed of the chance to play at one final major tournament.
O’Neill was non-committal when asked about the 35-year-old’s chances of recovering in time, and that could open the door for Ipswich Town’s David McGoldrick, who can operate as a striker or a little deeper, with Kevin Doyle also on standby.
Predicted Ireland Euro 2016 squad
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph, Shay Given, David Forde.
Defenders: Seamus Coleman, Cyrus Christie, John O’Shea, Ciaran Clark, Shane Duffy, Richard Keogh, Robbie Brady, Stephen Ward.
Midfielders: Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, Jeff Hendrick, Wes Hoolahan, James McClean, Aiden McGeady, Harry Arter, David Meyler.
Forwards: Shane Long, Jon Walters, Daryl Murphy, David McGoldrick.
Which players would you like to see make Ireland’s final Euro 2016 squad?
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That’s a pretty misleading headline in fairness. You’ve taken him out of context there
I don’t think ‘These games are great for practicing’ is taking anything out of context.
It looks like a poor attempt to paint the bloke in a negative, unsporting light.
I’d have to disagree there. A small change turns an innocuous comment about the nature of the autumn series into a dig at Ireland, as if he considered the match as nothing more strenuous than a warm-up with a practice squad. Needless sensationalism, in my own humble opinion.
Yeah, bad headline
The headline says “Ireland were great for practicing against, declares hooper”
What he actually said was “these games are great for practising and getting systems in place”
He made no specific reference to Ireland as opposed to any other team they play this autumn, but from reading the headline you would think he was disrespecting Ireland.
In fairness Patrick your usually fair enough but I think your off the mark this time.
The headline says “Ireland were great for practicing against, declares hooper”
What he actually said was “these games are great for practising and getting systems in place”
He made no specific reference to Ireland as opposed to any other team they play this autumn, but from reading the headline you would think he was disrespecting Ireland.
In fairness Patrick your usually fair enough but I think your off the mark this time.
I agree it is misleading…looking to stir something up…
Totally agree. The headline says something totally different to what the article reports. Headline suggests they totally disrespected Ireland which couldn’t be further from the truth judging by his full comment.
Incorrect Patrick, there’s quite a bit of difference between the two statements and the headline suggests a personal lack of sportsmanship directed specifically at Ireland.
The Journal, sharp in it’s early incarnation, has become increasingly sloppy with headlines and content over the last while and is no longer first port of call here for news or sport.
Another misleading headline
He did not mention ireland at all.
my granny would walk through that irish defence
She must be quick
Your headline is f@#kin joke. Typical. This site is gone to hell!
Has thejournal got a new editor recently? The headlines lately are ridiculous.
I’m really starting to get annoyed with the sensational tabloid headlines
Headline completely out of context. Trying to justify it is even worse.
Cheers for the comments and feedback. We have changed the headline to reflect Hooper’s drive to win three Tests in a row, for the first time, with the green & golds.
Cowboy
This site is getting worse by the day. Sad effort of a headline in fairness. No need for it.
Lmao…He just telling the truth…
It’s common sense what he’s saying
The score/the Sun
The Score is quickly slipping into Tabloid territory, come on lads, clean it up!
He’s right In a way! You could practice anything you like against that irish team?