Soccer:Wolves defender Kevin Foley is expected to play against against a selection of local lower division players in Pistoia, Italy, this evening, depsite being dropped from the Euro 2012 squad this morning.
Foley was replaced by Paul McShane when Giovanni Trapattoni’s official 23-man squad for the European Championships was submitted to Uefa today. Having been named in the side yesterday, however, it would seem he is happy to play, though he is not expected to remain with the squad for much longer, depsite being permitted to do so.
McShane was omitted from the panel originally named by the Italian at the Aviva stadium on May 7th, but was drafted in last week as defensive cover for the game against Bosnia Herzegovina due to injury problems with Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger, Foley and, in particular, John O’Shea.
The 26 year-old ended up starting the game in place of the latter at right-back and did well. Now, after Trapattoni weighed up his options, it is he rather than Foley who has been handed a place in the official travelling party for Euro 2012 and the precious squad number that goes with it.
“With the injuries that we experienced in the squad over the past week, I have had to make a tough decision when it comes to naming the 23 players that must be submitted to Uefa for the championship,” said Trapattoni in a statement issued by through the FAI today.
“Kevin Foley, John O’Shea, Paul McShane, Darren O’Dea, Shay Given had all been carrying knocks and we have been monitoring them closely in their recovery. Although Kevin has been recovering well, I have made the difficult decision to leave him out of the 23 player list after completing fitness tests on John O’Shea and Paul Mc Shane this morning.
“I have spoken to him and understand how difficult it is, saying that he can remain with the squad if he wishes.”
It will certainly come as a bitter blow to the player, who has already suffered relegation from the Premier League with his club side this year. He could, however, be drafted back into the Ireland panel right up until the morning of the Croatia game in the event that another player is injured.
Foley is the second player originally named in the squad to miss out on the championships. After the 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegiovina on Saturday it was confirmed Keith Fahey would replaced by Paul Green after failing to recover from a groin strain.
There are no other surprises in the squad with Trapattoni handing what is widely regarded as his first choice starting line up the numbers one to 11.
Republic of Ireland 23-man squad for Euro 2012
1Shay Given, 2Sean St Ledger, 3Stephen Ward, 4John O'Shea, 5Richard Dunne, 6Glenn Whelan, 7Aiden McGeady, 8Keith Andrews, 9Kevin Doyle, 10Robbie Keane, 11Damien Duff, 12Stephen Kelly, 13Paul Mc Shane, 14Jonathan Walters, 15Darron Gibson, 16Keiren Westwood, 17Stephen Hunt, 18Darren O'Dea, 19Shane Long, 20Simon Cox , 21Paul Green, 22James McClean, 23David Forde
