JOHN GILES BELIEVES that Giovanni Trapattoni should be happy to have his squad selection headache in the run-up to Euro 2012.
The Italian has indicated that he will reveal the 23 names who will travel to Poland for June’s tournament before the friendly game with Bosnia Herzegovina on May 26 with a couple more being put on standby.
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He has reiterated his reluctancy to veer from the players who were successful in earning qualification for Ireland’s first major competition in ten years but, despite his promise to remain loyal, there have been calls for fringe players like Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Shane Duffy and James McClean to be handed a place on the plane.
And speaking at the launch of his charity’s second annual ‘Walk of Dreams‘ yesterday, former Ireland manager and RTE Sport pundit Giles said he feels Sunderland winger McClean will make the final cut.
He (Trapattoni) did say on record that the players who got us there are the ones he will take to the championships but there are 23 players going,” Giles said. “I’d be very surprised if there isn’t room for him (McClean).
“It is difficult. There’s Duff, McGeady, Hunt and Coleman as well. All I can say is it’s a great problem to have from a manager’s point of view.
“It’s a good position to be in and it bodes well for the future because the World Cup qualifiers start in September anyway.”
Giles will watch Ireland’s Group C games with Croatia, Spain and Italy from the comfort of the RTE studios and added that it’s a nice change to be covering a European championships which the country is participating in.
“It’s great for everybody. You saw the country itself when we qualified – there was a lift for everybody. It also adds a different dimension totally to the panel.”
'Trap's squad dilemma is a great problem to have' - John Giles
JOHN GILES BELIEVES that Giovanni Trapattoni should be happy to have his squad selection headache in the run-up to Euro 2012.
The Italian has indicated that he will reveal the 23 names who will travel to Poland for June’s tournament before the friendly game with Bosnia Herzegovina on May 26 with a couple more being put on standby.
He has reiterated his reluctancy to veer from the players who were successful in earning qualification for Ireland’s first major competition in ten years but, despite his promise to remain loyal, there have been calls for fringe players like Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Shane Duffy and James McClean to be handed a place on the plane.
And speaking at the launch of his charity’s second annual ‘Walk of Dreams‘ yesterday, former Ireland manager and RTE Sport pundit Giles said he feels Sunderland winger McClean will make the final cut.
“It is difficult. There’s Duff, McGeady, Hunt and Coleman as well. All I can say is it’s a great problem to have from a manager’s point of view.
“It’s a good position to be in and it bodes well for the future because the World Cup qualifiers start in September anyway.”
Giles will watch Ireland’s Group C games with Croatia, Spain and Italy from the comfort of the RTE studios and added that it’s a nice change to be covering a European championships which the country is participating in.
“It’s great for everybody. You saw the country itself when we qualified – there was a lift for everybody. It also adds a different dimension totally to the panel.”
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Euro 2012 Giovanni Trapattoni James McClean John Giles Road to Poland RTÉ Walk of Dreams 2012