James McCarthy uses the head and ignores Caldwell

James McCarthy has ignored the advise of Gary Caldwell and will make his full international debut for Ireland against Brazil tomorrow night.

The long road from being rejected by the Scotland u-16 squad to becoming a full internationalist for Ireland will be completed when Giovanni Trapattoni gives the Wigan midfielder his first full cap.

Despite the many obstacles that were put in front of him and hostility throughout the country Caldwell thought that he might be able to sweet talk the 19-year-old into an international u-turn.

McCarthy listened, smiled and ignored Caldwell and will be welcomed warmly into the full Irish set up against Brazil tomorrow night.

"He had a chat with me but nothing was going to change," McCarthy admitted about the Caldwell approach, apparently made with the approval of Craig Levein.

"He (Levein) spoke to Gary about it, as I say, because Ireland have done so well for me in everything they've done for me, I was delighted to be part of it.

"It's a bit frustrating when it keeps coming back now and again. I don't know where it's coming from, I don't know who's saying it, I just have to block it out and just get on with my own game. 

"I got a couple of phone calls from Ireland asking what's happening but I told them from day one that nothing was happening and it's just paper talk."

"Liam Brady was on and I told him nothing was happening and he said to keep working hard at my club and see what happens.

"Scotland said I wasn't good enough, Ireland came in and I was delighted to go and represent Ireland especially for my granddad who was so proud.

"I was told by my advisor at the time that he asked Scotland to put me in a squad, but they said we'll leave him now, he's not better than what we got. 

"Ireland came over and watched my first game and put me in. It was Seán McCaffrey who came over himself and he is a really good fella, he looked after me and my family."

McCarthy won't be a fully fledged internationalist in the eyes of Fifa until he plays a competitive match but even the persuasive powers of Caldwell will find it tricky to turn the situation around.

Portsmouth's Marc Wilson will also be making his full international debut for Ireland after turning his back on Northern Ireland.

The Belfast based association are far from happy about the number of players from the six counties who are opting to join up with the Football Association of Ireland with Everton's Shane Duffy following the example of Derry born Darron Gibson in moving south to experience international football.

With attention turning towards McCarthy the Duncan Ferguson of Irish football, Stephen Ireland, continues his international exile at Manchester City where he regularly pops up questioning the important and purpose of international football.

Paul Hyland of the Evening Herald has produced a great article on the background and politics involved in these decisions CLICK HERE to read it.

Keano goes tonto!

Roy Keane has waded into the controversy surrounding the France-Ireland match by saying that the Irish have no one to blame but themselves.

The simmering anger that has never been far below the surface since Keane walked out of the 2002 World Cup exploded again today at the pre-match media conference apparently to preview tomorrow's match with Sheffield Wednesday.

After the fall-out with Mick McCarthy in 2002 Keane retained a high level of sympathy and support throughout Ireland as he let rip with a string of complaints about McCarthy and the FAI.

That support has never left Keane through his career moves from Manchester United through to Celtic, Sunderland and now on to Ipswich.

However his criticism of the team that faced France, the defenders and goalkeeper Shay Given in particular, will surely bring about a sea change in opinion with few dissenters in Ireland over the injustice of Wednesday's KO inspired by the cheating of Thierry Henry.

Keane has never gone with the flow, he has often enjoyed the role of the rebel, but his barbed comments about the events in Paris are likely to push his supporters into a corner that can't be defended.

COMMOTION

"I've been amazed by the commotion over the last few days," the Ipswich boss said. "Yeah of course Henry handled the ball but I'd be more focused on why didn't they clear it? I'd be more annoyed with my defenders and goalkeeper than Thierry Henry.

"How can you let the ball bounce about in the six yard box? How can you let Thierry Henry get goal-side of you? And if the ball is bouncing in the six yard box I'd be saying where the hell is my goalkeeper?

"They should have cleared it, the defenders let the ball bounce in the six yard box.

"If that was my team I'd go into the dressing room and I wouldn't even mention the handball I'd just say why didn't anyone head it? Defenders have to focus on the players, there is only one ball, just go and head it.

"Where is my goalkeeper? The ball bounced in the six yard box from a free-kick just inside the halfway line, that's what I'd be asking about not about the handball.

Keane added: "Ireland had the chances over the two games and never took them, in the first game they never performed, in the second half (in Paris) we had opportunities to score and didn't take them.

DECISIONS

"But it's the usual FAI reaction, we've been robbed, the honesty of the game. There was one of the group matches, I'm sure it was Georgia where Ireland got a penalty it was one of the worst decisions that I've ever seen, one which changed the whole course of the game.

"I don't remember the FAI saying after the game that we should give them a replay.

"There's a lot at stake, the Irish supporters deserve better, the manager deserves better probably most of the players deserve better but do the FAI deserve better? What goes around comes around.

"France were there for the taking and Ireland never grabbed it, usual stuff, afraid of that next step, mentally not strong enough, they can complain all they want its not going to change France are going to the World Cup, get over it

"I don't want the sympathy vote, the usual, the usual carry on, boring, bore you to death it would."

Keane's comments and the long standing grievances that he nurtures are far from boring, his comments today are likely to make him second only to Henry in popularity terms in Ireland with respect and sympathy for the stance that he took in 2002 likely to disappear as he appears to revel in the misfortunes of Paris.

THIS WEEKEND'S PADDY POWER SPECIALS

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Willie McStay's side are currently sitting in second place in the Hungarian league but trail leaders Videoton by six points after losing to Videoton in their last league fixture... CLICK HERE for more

Celtic's table-topping youth side face Falkirk tomorrow at Stirling University with an 11am kick-off.
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Given still not ruling out hoops move.

It's been running for even longer than 'Robbie for Celtic' but the idea of Shay Given returning to Celtic one day can't be ruled out.

The teenager that moved to Glasgow from Donegal certainly made a big impression on those that saw him play for the reserves or youth team although sadly that didn't include Lou Macari who allowed Kenny Dalglish to take Given to Blackburn Rovers in 1994 before new manager Tommy Burns could intervene.

Now after more than a decade at Newcastle, which must have seemed like a lifetime, Given is at a club serious about winning honours and is viewed by many to have been Mark Hughes best signing for Manchester City.

If Ireland are to overcome France and reach the World Cup Finals in South Africa it will require brilliance from Given to keep the French at bay.

Like Roy Keane through the 2002 qualifying campaign Given has been a man on a mission, desperate to repeat the experiences of Japan and South Korea to make up for the lack of domestic success in his career.

As a regular visitor to Celtic Park Given knows more about Celtic than most and despite his happiness at Manchester City he wouldn't rule out a possible move to Celtic before he hangs up his gloves.

Speaking to fifa.com about finishing his career with Manchester City he said: "I'd love to finish my career here. I haven't been here long, but I already feel at home and love the club.

"I grew up a Celtic supporter and they have a big place in my heart, but I really hope I can finish my career here. You can never say never, but I'd like to think I will. "

It wasn't quite a 'come and get me plea to Celts' but despite the obvious difference in finances and indeed prospects between Celtic and Manchester City the lure of an offer from Celtic at some stage would be hard to resist.

The interview with fifa.com was in a Question and Answer style so rather than add some spin and pad it out into something that it's not I've copied through some of the interview below.

FIFA.COM How did you feel when you drew France?

SG We knew it was going to be tough, no matter who we drew. Some people would say that France are the best team in the play-offs, but we're just focusing on going out there and playing our own game.
FIFA.COM Do you think the absence of Franck Ribery will be a big advantage?

SG Yeah, he's a top player. But his replacement will be another quality player - France simply don't have weak players.

FIFA.COM What will the atmosphere be like at Croke Park for the first leg on Saturday? Do you think this will be a big advantage to the Irish?

SG It's going to be a very special occasion. It will be sold out and the atmosphere will be absolutely electric, so I think this will work in our favour. The Irish supporters are very, very passionate and their support will give us a big lift.

FIFA.COM What would it mean to you and the people of Ireland to play at South Africa 2010?

SG It would mean a hell of a lot to the people of Ireland to qualify. There's a lot of doom and gloom about with the recession, so it would be good to give the people something to look forward to. I played at the World Cup in 2002 and it was a great experience, the pinnacle of my career so far. I'd love to do that again.

FIFA.COM Finally, do you believe Republic of Ireland will beat France and reach South Africa 2010?

SG We have to believe. We know France are the favourites but that's fine with us, it means there's more pressure on them. We need to just play our own game and give it everything. We have two massive games in front of us, but I think we're in with great chance of reaching the World Cup.

O'Dea gets Ireland call up

Darren O'Dea has been called up into the Ireland squad to face South Africa at Limerick on Tuesday.

The defender joined Reading on loan last week after signing a new three year contract at Celtic and is desperate to get a chance at international level.

Richard Dunne and Kevin Kilbane are amongst five players that Giovanni Trapattoni has excused from the South African game giving O'Dea a chance to stake his claim for the international side.

Dunne and Preston's Sean St-Ledger formed the central defensive partnership in the 2-1 win over Cyprus on Saturday.

As a former u-21 captain Dubliner O'Dea is hoping to make the step up into the full international squad with his loan deal to Reading viewed as the perfect platform to accelerate his ambitions for Celtic and Ireland.

After scoring for Celtic against Rangers in the final of the Co-Operative Cup in March O'Dea was called up for an international get together but left out of the final squad that travelled to face Italy in Bari.

Ireland host the Italians at Croke Park on October 10 with three teams still battling it out for the top two places with Italy facing Bulgaria on Wednesday in Turin.

The Ireland-Italy match is certain to be a massive occasion at Croke Park with Trapattoni confident of his adopted countries chances of making it to the World Cup Finals.

Refereeing decisions will be watched closely in the Italy-Bulgaria match with 12 Italians knowing that a booking in Wednesday's match will mean missing out against Ireland due to suspension.

Bhoys World Cup hopes stay alive

Celtic fans Shay Given and Damien Duff are still on course for a place at the World Cup Finals after last night's nervous 2-1 win over Cyprus.


Skipper Robbie Keane's 83rd minute header won the points for Giovanni Trappatoni's side after Aiden McGeady had appeared as a 66th minute substitute.

It was a difficult surface for McGeady to make an impact on but after making a habit of losing points to late goals last night's win was especially welcome.

Kevin Doyle had given Ireland the lead in the fifth minute but it was no surprise when Cyprus equalised on the half hour when left-back Elia sent an unstoppable shot past Given.

For reasons best known to themselves the home side barely posed any threat after the break but Ireland toiled to create chances and it looked like two precious qualification points may be slipping by.

Caleb Folan replaced Doyle with fifteen minutes left to play as a more direct route was employed with wingers Duff and McGeady getting little joy from the flanks.

With time running out the Cypriot keeper Sofronis Avgousti took a kamikaze type run off his line leaving Keane with an open goal to head Duff's cross into the net for his 40th international goal.

The points keep Ireland in second place in the group ahead of their October 10 clash with group leaders Italy at Croke Park.

Great article on former Celtic youth team keeper Shay Given.