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For Irish, the Russians are coming

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Jay Mwamba

Ireland’s buildup for Japan/Korea ’02 gets under way in Dublin today with a friendly against Russia. Mick McCarthy’s squad for the match includes all the possibles for the Republic’s third trip to the finals in June, where Ireland are drawn with Germany, African champs Cameroon and Saudi Arabia in the first round.

The 24 players called up by McCarthy last week were: goalkeepers — Alan Kelly (Blackburn Rovers), Shay Given (Newcastle United), Dean Kiely (Charlton Athletic); defenders — Ian Harte, Gary Kelly (both Leeds United); Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Steve Staunton (Aston Villa), Gary Breen (Coventry City), Andy O’Brien (Newcastle United), and Kenny Cunningham (Wimbledon).

Also, midfielders — Roy Keane (Manchester United), Matt Holland (Ipswich Town), Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland), Steve Finnan (Fulham), Lee Carsley (Coventry City), Jason McAteer (Sunderland), Mark Kennedy (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Stephen Reid (Millwall), and Colin Healy (Celtic).

Among the forwards, Leeds’ Robbie Keane, who is returning from injury, is a notable inclusion. Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace), the ageless Niall Quinn (Sunderland), Damien Duff (Blackburn Rovers), and Richard Sadlier (Millwall) were the other strikers summoned.

Friendlies galore

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Ireland’s rare encounter with the Russians is one of 19 international friendlies scheduled for today, as World Cup-bound teams continue limbering up for soccer’s biggest event.

Two of the Republic’s Group E opponents, Saudi Arabia and Germany, are also in action, both at home against Denmark and Isr’l respectively.

The Saudis, who have been averaging a match per week for the last month, are coming off a narrow 1-0 loss to Brazil in Riyadh last Wednesday.

Djalminha netted in the 73rd minute for the jittery visitors, who later survived a Saudi penalty miss in the dying minutes.

In other marquee match-ups, England boss Sven Goran Eriksson is set to blood several youngsters at the Amsterdam Arena in a tussle with Ireland’s vanquished foes Holland; world champions France host Romania, while, Italy will be at full strength against the United States in Sicily.

Northern exposure

Northern Ireland won’t be in Asia, but they’ll provide the opposition for Team USA’s Group D foes Poland at Windsor Park in Belfast. Sammy McIlroy’s side is preparing for the Euro ’04 qualifiers beginning in the fall.

The rest of the midweek schedule is: Luxemburg vs. Albania, Wales vs. Argentina, Paraguay vs. Bolivia, Croatia vs. Bulgaria, Liechtenstein vs. Faroe Islands, Lithuania vs. Jordan, Uruguay vs. Korea Republic, Malta vs. Moldova, Belgium vs. Norway, Spain vs. Portugal, France vs. Romania, Greece vs. Sweden, and Mexico vs. Yugoslavia.

Lion kings

Cameroon, Ireland’s first opponents in the finals, made it three championships in two years when they retained the African Nations Cup in Bamako, Mali, last Sunday. The “Indomitable Lions” beat Senegal’s “Lions of Teranga” 3-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw.

The result confirmed the Central Africans’ reputation as penalty specialists following previous shootout victories over Nigeria in the 2000 Nations Cup final and Spain in the 2000 Olympic Games gold medal match.

To reach last Sunday’s final, Cameroon had defeated Mali 3-0 in the semifinals on goals by Salomon Olembe (two) and ex-West Ham United midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe.

Showing what a tough nut their defense, built around Rigobert Song and Raymond Kalla, will be to crack in Japan/Korea, the “Indomitable Lions” finished the Nations Cup without conceding a single goal in regular play (six matches).

Cameroon’s star striker and 2000 African Footballer of the Year, Patrick Mboma, missed his team’s last two matches because of injury but still finished as the tournament’s top scorer with three goals.

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