Trapattoni hoping Ireland help his country to next World Cup

• zocoss

  19 Oct 09, 22:12

  WORLD CUP DRAW: Republic of Ireland face France in tough 2010 play-off tie
  
  

  Irish eyes smiling: Shay Given does not agree with UEFA's unfair seeding system, but is confident Ireland can qualify for the World Cup

   

  WORLD CUP 2010 PLAY-OFF DRAW

  Republic of Ireland v France

  Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina
  

  Greece v Ukraine

  Russia v Slovenia

  First leg ties to be played on 14 November; second leg on 18 Nov

   

  Republic of Ireland have been drawn against 1998 winners France as Giovanni Trapattoni's side bid to book their place at next year's World Cup in South Africa.

  The unseeded Irish finished second behind world champions Italy in group eight and will host the Theirry Henry-lead side in Dublin on November 14 before the crucial return leg at the Stade De France four days later that will decide their 2010 fate.

  France, beaten finalists in the last World Cup, were viewed as the team to avoid along with Portugal and former Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo.

  The Irish, who last played in the finals in 2002, had hoped for an easier fixture against Greece but in the draw in Zurich, Everton's South African midfielder Steven Pienaar drew them first out of the hat against the French.

  Trapattoni at least can feel relieved that the Republic do not have to play Russia on the artificial pitch at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

  Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given is confident Ireland can come out on top despite their underdogs tag but branded UEFA's late-twist to seed teams as 'ridiculous'.

  The former Newcastle star feels their decision is 'totally unfair'  and called president Michel Platini alleged 'French-bias' into question.

   

   

  

  French fancy: Ireland go into the play-off against Thierry Henry's France as the underdogs, particularly with the decisive second leg set to played in Paris

   

  'To change the rules a couple of weeks before the end of the campaign is ridiculous if you ask me, but that’s what they’ve done,' Given told talkSPORT radio.

  'Platini is high up in UEFA and France are struggling to get there. You just don’t know. 

  'I do think it’s very unfair. 'But we’ve got to keep our heads down and get on with it. Given added: 'We’re obviously delighted to be in the play-offs and whoever we play, it will be a great two legs.  'We’ve got a really great chance of getting there.'

  In the other play-offs, Portugal will play Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece will face Ukraine and Russia take on Slovenia.

   

   

  

  Eyes on the prize: Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will look to book Portugal's passage to South Africa in a tricky tie against Bosnia-Herzegovina

   

• sand king

  20 Oct 09, 02:09

  O'Shea to score for Ireland!

• a-Lost-9uY

  20 Oct 09, 06:52

  uhm to me.. against France not really tat tough leh..

   

  they are a team in transition..

• Short Ninja

  20 Oct 09, 07:04

  Hope Ireland makes it

• AEW5001

  20 Oct 09, 08:48

  it will all come down to tatics.

• trendz

  20 Oct 09, 09:04

  trust me, it'll be a conspiracy. what more with the French-bias b*stard michel platini. France WILL qualify.

   

  And i don't support France.

• zocoss

  22 Oct 09, 11:34

  RIBERY SET TO MISS WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF

  

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  Midfielder Franck Ribery looks set to miss France's World Cup play-off against Republic of Ireland with a knee injury.

  The Bayern Munich player is likely to be sidelined for a month after consulting professor Jean-Henri Jaeger in Strasbourg.

  The doctor confirmed the 26-year-old has tendinitis of the patellar tendon in his left knee and needs to rest for four weeks, according to www.lequipe.fr.

  His absence would be a blow for Les Bleus ahead of the games on November 14 and 18, which will determine which team will travel to South Africa next year.

   

• youyayu

  22 Oct 09, 19:18

  is a freaking disgrace...

  hope that ireland will be in the world cup instead of france...

   

  DISGRACE TO FOOTBALL!

• stellazio

  22 Oct 09, 19:21

  i hope platini gets slapped on his face with france failing to qualiy..

• zocoss

  23 Oct 09, 09:46

  Ireland calling Ireland! Giovanni Trapattoni hoping Manchester City star Stephen makes international comeback

   

   

   

   

  

  National service: Ireland ruled himself out of representing his country

   

   

  Giovanni Trapattoni has urged Stephen Ireland to come out of international retirement and help fire his country to next summer's World Cup finals.

  The Republic of Ireland boss has not given up hope of the Manchester City star lining up in the two-leg play-off against France next month.

  Ireland has not played since leaving the squad before a match against the Czech Republic in September 2007, using the fabricated death of his grandmother as a reason.

  It later transpired that his girlfriend had suffered a miscarriage and Ireland had a perfectly good reason to return home, but he has not overcome the episode.  

  Trapattoni told World Soccer magazine: 'If a player does not want to play for his country, there is nothing I can do.
  

  'I believe he will regret this decision when he is older because there is a chance he could have helped his country to make the World Cup finals.

  'I have had conversations with him, but he says he is happy not to play. 'My door is always open to him and some of the best champions of the past have enjoyed successful comebacks. He can be like them if he wishes.'