Stephen Ireland and Jessica Lawlor at the launch of Man City's Joleon Lescott's fashion range in Manchester this week. Picture by: Eamonn and James Clarke/Eamonn and James Clarke/EMPICS Entertainment
Prodigal Son
Stephen Ireland hints at return to international fold after Euros
“I think it’s highly unlikely that I’ll be involved in the squad for the Euros,” Ireland said today. No kidding.
STEPHEN IRELAND ADMITS it’s ‘highly unlikely’ he’ll be in Poland with Ireland this summer for the European Championships.
The Aston Villa midfielder has been exiled from the Irish set-up since departing in controversial circumstances five years ago. Giovanni Trapattoni has since failed to lure him back to the fold.
Advertisement
Today however, in an interview with the BBC’s Football Focus, the Cobh native says he may ‘review’ the situation after Euro 2012.
“I think it’s highly unlikely that I’ll be involved in the squad for the Euros,” Ireland said. “They’ve done amazing to get there. I know they’re in a tough group but I still think anything can happen.
“When you’re watching every game and kicking every ball, I’m really excited to see how they do and I’m sure they’ll do really well. And you know after the Euros in September I can review it and see what happens.”
Ireland now says he regrets the circumstances in which he left the Irish panel. In September 2007, he fabricated the ‘death’ of a grandmother as an excuse to leave Steve Staunton’s squad and return to his heavily pregnant partner, Jessica. When it emerged she had, in fact, not died, he claimed the other granny passed away. This was also untrue, of course.
“Obviously I left in bad circumstances that I would love to change but it happened, unfortunately,” he said. “I’ve missed these couple of years and I’m in the scenario because of myself. So if it ever comes to reviewing it again, I’ll have to think long and hard about it.”
Stephen Ireland hints at return to international fold after Euros
STEPHEN IRELAND ADMITS it’s ‘highly unlikely’ he’ll be in Poland with Ireland this summer for the European Championships.
The Aston Villa midfielder has been exiled from the Irish set-up since departing in controversial circumstances five years ago. Giovanni Trapattoni has since failed to lure him back to the fold.
Today however, in an interview with the BBC’s Football Focus, the Cobh native says he may ‘review’ the situation after Euro 2012.
“I think it’s highly unlikely that I’ll be involved in the squad for the Euros,” Ireland said. “They’ve done amazing to get there. I know they’re in a tough group but I still think anything can happen.
“When you’re watching every game and kicking every ball, I’m really excited to see how they do and I’m sure they’ll do really well. And you know after the Euros in September I can review it and see what happens.”
Ireland now says he regrets the circumstances in which he left the Irish panel. In September 2007, he fabricated the ‘death’ of a grandmother as an excuse to leave Steve Staunton’s squad and return to his heavily pregnant partner, Jessica. When it emerged she had, in fact, not died, he claimed the other granny passed away. This was also untrue, of course.
“Obviously I left in bad circumstances that I would love to change but it happened, unfortunately,” he said. “I’ve missed these couple of years and I’m in the scenario because of myself. So if it ever comes to reviewing it again, I’ll have to think long and hard about it.”
Would you welcome him back?
Poll Results:
LIVE: Arsenal v Chelsea, Premier League
Lescott aims to deny United the title at Eastlands
Guardiola expecting Real to attack in crucial Clasico showdown
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Aston Villa Aviva Stadium Damien Duff Estonia Euro 2012 Euro2012 FAI Giovanni Trapattoni John O’Shea Keith Andrews Kevin Doyle Lansdowne Rd Prodigal Son Richard Dunne Robbie Keane Sean St Ledger; Glenn Whelan Shay Given Stephen hunt Stephen Ireland Stephen Ward