All good news ahead of a game that has really caught the Irish Nations’ awareness. For tomorrow morning in the Republic, the nation will watch with anticipation, the Boys in green attempt to overturn the Germans.
Although during both the 1990 & 94’ World cup campaigns the Nation stood still, this time it’s different. Houses have been painted in the tri-colour (that is if they haven’t been re-mortgaged to fund the Japan adventure), the country looks more green than ever before, and everyone knows just what is at stake. From 12.30 tomorrow afternoon until 2pm the country WILL stand still . And the boys will do us proud, regardless of the result because they know that every Irish man woman and child are willing their team spirit into every Irish man who takes to the field. Remember there’s still the Saudis’ to deal with.
Team news
Mick McCarthy decided that they would not travel the punishing 90 minutes each way trip or so to Kashima Stadium, Ibaraki for a pre-match training session ahead of tomorrow's game against Germany but opted instead to stay in Chiba City. An unecessary trip, so good on you Mick. Why tire out our boys out on a three hour round coach trip?
If there are any doubts on our Boys fitness ahead of tomorrows game against Germany it may be Gary Breen. A niggling hamstring injury is the cause and all will be revealed 70 minutes before the game, as regards our team. Everyone trained today, nobody more or less than what they should have. Shay’s hip injury is clear, and that’s wonderful news for us. When asked by the media on how he felt about the Germans putting 8 past the Saudis Shay replied “ I didn’t sleep a wink last night” (Laughing!)
Jason’s knee seems fine, after the initial challenges from “Bilong’s” trailing leg in the Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-2 win, and then he did take another bang during the Cameroon game. So the questions’ on all Irish fans lips is…Will Steve Finnan take the right back slot and Gary Kelly take McAteers spot again? And should Gary Breen fail to report fully fit before kick-off, is Andy O’Brien is the hot favourite to get his first kick in World Cup competition. Apparently he has been superb in training
Opposition - The German World cup squad
1 KAHN Oliver (GK), 2 LINKE Thomas, 3 REHMER Marko, 4 BAUMANN Frank, 5 RAMELOW Carsten, 6 ZIEGE Christian, 7 NEUVILLE Oliver, 8 HAMANN Dietmar 9 JANCKER Carsten, 10 RICKEN Lars, 11 KLOSE Miroslav, 12 LEHMANN Jens (GK) 13 BALLACK Michael, 14 ASAMOAH Gerald, 15 KEHL Sebastian, 16 JEREMIES Jens 17 BODE Marco, 18 BOEHME Joerg, 19 SCHNEIDER Bernd, 20 BIERHOFF Oliver 21 METZELDER Christoph, 22 FRINGS Torsten, 23 BUTT Hans-Joerg (GK)
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