Cox Starts Upfront Ahead of Long for Armenia Showdown SPORTSPEAK
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- Wilderness
When the FAI yesterday ruled Robbie Keane out of tomorrow evenings crucial Euro 2012 qualifier with Armenia due to injury, you would have put your mortgage on Shane Long partnering Kevin Doyle upfront, but journalists and the general public were left confused today when Giovanni Trapattoni put Simon Cox in the starting 11 instead of Long.
Surely it would have made sense for Long to start considering his form as of late and also the fact that Cox hasnt featured for the Republic of Ireland since he scored the second goal in the summer friendly win over Italy, it now seems that the debate isnt around who is the better/fitter player, its more technical than that, the debate is around who fits into Giovanni Trapattoni’s system and clearly Trap has answered that today.
Richard Dunne is back in the starting 11 after missing Fridays boring 2-0 win over Andorra through suspension, Sean St Ledger will start opposite Dunne.
Stephen Kelly also comes into the starting side, he was on the bench on Friday, and with captain Keane injured, Shay Given will take the captains role. On Keanes injury Trap today said that the Tallaght man would be out of action for atleast four weeks, Trap seemed unsure today when answering to journalists on whether he would be back fully fit in time IF the Republic of Ireland beat or draw with Armenia tomorrow evening and make it into the play-off draw.
Republic of Ireland starting 11 to face Armenia in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening K.O 6:45pm
Shay Given, John O’Shea, Sean St Ledger, Richard Dunne, Stephen Kelly, Damien Duff, Keith Andrews, Glen Whelan, Aiden McGeady, Simon Cox, Kevin Doyle.
You can listen to a podcast of Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni and captain Shay Given in the podcasts section on the right hand side of the page
When the FAI yesterday ruled Robbie Keane out of tomorrow evenings crucial Euro 2012 qualifier with Armenia due to injury, you would have put your mortgage on Shane Long partnering Kevin Doyle upfront, but journalists and the general public were left confused today when Giovanni Trapattoni put Simon Cox in the starting 11 instead of Long.
Surely it would have made sense for Long to start considering his form as of late and also the fact that Cox hasnt featured for the Republic of Ireland since he scored the second goal in the summer friendly win over Italy, it now seems that the debate isnt around who is the better/fitter player, its more technical than that, the debate is around who fits into Giovanni Trapattoni’s system and clearly Trap has answered that today.
Richard Dunne is back in the starting 11 after missing Fridays boring 2-0 win over Andorra through suspension, Sean St Ledger will start opposite Dunne.
Stephen Kelly also comes into the starting side, he was on the bench on Friday, and with captain Keane injured, Shay Given will take the captains role. On Keanes injury Trap today said that the Tallaght man would be out of action for atleast four weeks, Trap seemed unsure today when answering to journalists on whether he would be back fully fit in time IF the Republic of Ireland beat or draw with Armenia tomorrow evening and make it into the play-off draw.
Republic of Ireland starting 11 to face Armenia in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening K.O 6:45pm
Shay Given, John O’Shea, Sean St Ledger, Richard Dunne, Stephen Kelly, Damien Duff, Keith Andrews, Glen Whelan, Aiden McGeady, Simon Cox, Kevin Doyle.
You can listen to a podcast of Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni and captain Shay Given in the podcasts section on the right hand side of the page