Gibson's Everton move crucial for Ireland future

Darron Gibson's move to Everton has helped to bolster his international credentials, according to Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.

The 24-year-old Derryman impressed his experienced Italian manager as he shone during Ireland’s 1-0 Euro 2012 warm-up win over Bosnia last Saturday.

And Trapattoni believes the opportunity to play consistently at a top half Premiership club like Everton has transformed the midfielder’s prospects, after his career was in danger of going stale at Manchester United.

Gibson made 15 midfield appearances for David Moyes’ side after joining in January from Old Trafford, and is set to be rewarded with more playing time during next month’s European Championship finals in Poland.

“I think the change of club has been very important for him,” said Trapattoni (above) after former Toffees target Shane Long had sealed victory for 'The Boys In Green'.

“Darron Gibson has other qualities and I complimented him on his performance against Bosnia. That is the Gibson I wish to have.”

Trapattoni also told reporters after the game that he was impressed by Gibson’s vision, and growing maturity in the central midfield role, where he was increasingly effective for the Blues as they surged up the Premier League table in the second half of the season.

Gibson is poised to push Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews for a central midfield starting place, and his 90 mins against Bosnia is likely to increase that possibility.

Trapattoni names Ireland team for Bosnia clash

Giovanni Trapattoni has named his starting eleven for tomorrow's Euro 2012 warm up game against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Lansdowne Road Dublin.



The team includes a start for Derry winger James McClean, while as expected, Keiren Westwood steps in for the injured Shay Given.





Darron Gibson And Glenn Whelan make up the central midfield pairing while Kevin Doyle will parner Robbie Keane up front.


Keiren Westwood

Paul McShane
Richard Dunne
Sean St. Ledger
Stephen Ward

Damien Duff
Darron Gibson
Glenn Whelan
James McClean

Robbie Keane
Kevin Doyle


Tweet

Ireland Euro 2012 - a musical extravaganza!

With only a couple of weeks to go until the 20,000+ Green Army leaves home shores for Euro 2012, it would seem that we have as many Ireland Euro 2012 songs as we have travelling fans.


Some are great, some are decent & some are...well...different!


So for your enjoyment i've linked below a selection of all the above mentioned.

What's good? What's not so good? and what needs a little more work? :)

Let us know what you think on our One Team In Ireland Twitter page & we'll post your favourites



The Rocky Road To Poland - Official Republic Of Ireland Song for Euro 2012

The Rockier Road To Poland - Shane MacGowan, The Aftermath & Friends

I-R-E-L-A-N-D! The Offside Trap - feat. MC Eoin Goal (Ireland Euro 2012)

Ireland Euro 2012 song - BOYS IN GREEN - Rory and the island (ft. Sharon Shannon)

Ireland Soccer Anthem Euro 2012 - Trapp and the Lads!

A Dark Horse - Take Me Home

All Is Possible (Just Can't Get Enough)

The Proud-Emerald Army (Party)-Official Fan Video

Euro 2012 Irish football song,"We're on the way" by Owen Branagan

Unofficial Irish Euro 2012 Song - The Genuine Articles

Ireland Euro 2012 song - My Fair Land

IRELAND Euro 2012 Song (Whiskey N Mc'Gra)

THE CELTIC ROAR Ireland Euro 2012 soccer anthem

Three Colours Euro 2012

ON WE GO (THE BOYS IN GREEN, TRAPS ARMY)

Ireland Anthem EURO 2012 - Ambitious Minds by The Positronics

Ireland Euro 2012 Football Song - Ireland All The Way

Cead Mille Grazie Trapatonni (Song for Euro 2012)

'Road to Euro 12' Song for the Republic of Ireland

24 Years (We're going to win the Euros) Ireland EURO 2012


Tweet

Stephen Hunt confident ahead of Euro campaign

Stephen Hunt has spoken of his excitement and the ‘buzz’ surrounding the build up to Ireland’s trip to the Euro 2012 finals in Poland next month.

Speaking to Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh on the Over The Line podcast Hunt spoke of his ‘unbelievable memories’ of watching Ireland during the 1990 World Cup in Italy and the 2002 world Cup in Japan, and his hope of emulating the player s of previous campaigns.

“It would be great to be part of the history, to score a winning goal or to have a major impact on the tournament and be remembered for that. My aim for the next four weeks is to try and get in the team and be ready”

And Hunt contends that he has every chance of playing his part in the campaign and does not believe that the winger positions are set in stone, with Aiden McGeady & Damien Duff being automatic first choice wingers.

“I know the manager gives me my fair share of the games and he believes in me, and I played the same ammount of games as Duffer in the last campaign”

The Waterford born winger also spoke of the inclusion of James McClean in the squad for Poland.

“Fair play to James he’s had a good season which means 1 – he’s available for Ireland, 2 - it’s competition, and 3 - it’s healthy competition for the squad”
“ It certainly motivates you to do better but also to help james, he’s a young lad and everyone in the squad will welcome him and help him along the way, because we all want to do well”

Hunt also gave an interesting insight into how group C might play out for Ireland, a result which would see Ireland progressing to the later stages of the competition.

“We need to go there, do well and make our own history. I’ve an idea how the group will pan out that has us qualifying. I don’t think it’s important to win the Croatia, a draw just keeps everything alive and builds momentum going into the Spain game and then with the Italian game, we’d be hoping that we’d have enough in the locker to beat them, if needs be”

Tweet

Dunne can't wait for Euro's to begin

Richard Dunne has spoken of his excitement at making the trip to Poland for the Euro 2012 finals next month and going head to head against some of the world’s best teams.

Ireland kick-off their Euro 2012 campaign against Croatia on Sunday June 10th in Poznan.They will then meet Spain – the tournament favourites and reigning world and European champions - in Gdansk on June 14th before meeting Italy in Poznan on June 18th.

It’s brilliant, the excitement is the same for me and Shay & Robbie as it is for every child waiting to watch the games”

"It’s a hard group and we wanted to test ourselves against the best, and we’ve got certainly the best team in the world in our group and two other brilliant teams as well, so it’s exciting more than anything because you want to play against the best teams and have the chance to beat and upset them".

“We are going to have the opportunity this summer and for us, we know what we can do, we know we can upset teams and win games”

And Dunne never doubted that he would overcome a serious shoulder injury that at one point threatened his trip to the Euro finals in june.

He suffered a fracture to the right clavicle after falling heavily when challenging Manchester City keeper Joe Hart during a league game in February.

Speaking on Today FM Dunne Said “The shoulder is really good, I had the operation and done all the rehab and I’ve a metal plate in it so it’s stronger than before, so I’m raring to go now”

“The doctor told me straight away how long it would be and that I’d be back playing before the season ended, so I never really feared I’d miss out on the Euro’s, it was just a case of being patient”

Tweet

Trapattoni names Ireland Euro 2012 squad

Giovanni Trapattoni has just announced his 23 man squad for the Euro finals in Poland next month.

James McCarthy & Seamus Coleman miss out on squad selection











Shay Given - Aston Villa

David Forde - Millwall

Keiren Westwood - Sunderland




Sean St Ledger - Leicester City

Stephen Kelly - Fulham

Richard Dunne - Aston Villa

Stephen Ward - Wolverhampton Wanderers

John O'Shea - Sunderland

Darren O'Dea - Leeds United

Kevin Foley - Wolverhampton Wanderers




Glenn Whelan - Stoke City

Keith Andrews - West Bromwich Albion

Keith Fahey - Birmingham City

Stephen Hunt - Wolverhampton Wanderers

James McClean - Sunderland

Darren Gibson - Everton

Aiden McGeady - Spartak Moscow

Damien Duff - Fulham






Shane Long - West Bromwich Albion

Robbie Keane - Los Angeles Galaxy

Kevin Doyle - Wolverhampton Wanderers

Simon Cox - West Bromwich Albion

Jon Walters - Stoke City





Standby list - Randolph,Green,Keogh

Tweet

Decision day for Trapattoni - Who will make the final 23?

Giovanni Trapattoni will name his 23 man squad for the Euro 2012 finals tomorrow afternoon.

And while there has been little speculation about his five forward options for the finals (Keane,Doyle,Long,Cox, Walters), the same cannot be said about his possible choices over the midfield eight.

The probable inclusion of Derry's James McClean has made the midfield eight even more competitive, and with so much quality to choose from in this category, some big names are going to be left behind to watch the finals on TV.

Duff, Whelan, Andrews and Mcgeady are certain to be on the plane to Poland next month, and Gibson and Hunt will likely make the final 23, but if McClean is included that leaves a number of established players fighting it out for the final midfield birth.

James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman and Keith Fahey will all be hopeful of gaining the final midfield spot, but two will miss out. And will Trap decide to shock the country by including Paul Green?

Defence is likely to made up of Dunne, O'Shea, Stledger, Ward, Kelly, O'Dea and Foley.

We'll find out at 3.30pm tomorrow.

Tweet