Paul McShane is the surprise inclusion in Giovanni Trapattoni’s Irish squad that is going to Euro 2012. Due to fitness reasons, McShane takes the place of Wolves right back from Kevin Foley.
Kevin Foley, who played 45 minutes in Ireland’s game against a Tuscan Select XI on May 29, has said that he felt betrayed by the decision. “It is hard to take, you know. I don’t want to go into too much detail. I just feel betrayed,” said Foley.
The game finished 5-0 to the Irish with goals coming from every Ireland Euro 2012 striker. Skipper Robbie Keane struck twice for the Republic before Simon Cox and Shane Long, and Jon Walters finished off the game.
McShane’s inclusion was based on Trapattoni’s concerns over the fitness of his other centre halves John O’Shea, Richard Dunne and Darren O’Dea. Trapattoni said, “We based our decision on the fact the centre-halves all have problems. We are not sure if they will be 100%.”
McShane and the rest of the Euro squad will now head to Budapest ahead of the friendly against Hungary which takes place on Monday. The full Irish Squad that are going to the championships are:
- Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Aston Villa), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland AFC), David Forde (Millwall FC).
- Defenders: John O’Shea (Sunderland AFC), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa FC), Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Sean St Ledger (Leicester City FC), Darren O’Dea (Celtic FC), Stephen Kelly (Fulham FC), Paul McShane (Hull City AFC).
- Midfielders: Glenn Whelan (Stoke City FC), Keith Andrews (West Bromwich Albion FC), Aiden McGeady (FC SpartakMoskva), Darron Gibson (Everton FC), Paul Green (unattached), Damien Duff (Fulham FC), Stephen Hunt (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), James McClean (Sunderland AFC).
- Strikers: Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Shane Long (West Bromwich Albion FC), Jonathan Walters (Stoke City FC), Simon Cox (West Bromwich Albion FC).
Photograph – Donall Farmer/Inpho Irish Times
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