Do footballers want to play for their country???

[All the way back logue]

2 of the younger guys who you would think would be bursting a gut to get into the national team tonight: James McCarthy has not shown up and has not returned calls to the management and Anthony Stokes didn't want to travel because he was "too tired". This, after playing a full 23 minutes for Celtic last weekend.....unbelievable. Stephen Ireland's story is well documented by this stage.

Not sure what is going on with footballers these days - there doesn't seem to be any attraction in representing your country whatsoever. Contrast this with Liam Brady who had it written into his Juve contract that he would be released for all Rep of Ireland matches incl friendlies!

[johng]

2 of the younger guys who you would think would be bursting a gut to get into the national team tonight: James McCarthy has not shown up and has not returned calls to the management and Anthony Stokes didn't want to travel because he was "too tired". This, after playing a full 23 minutes for Celtic last weekend.....unbelievable. Stephen Ireland's story is well documented by this stage.

Not sure what is going on with footballers these days - there doesn't seem to be any attraction in representing your country whatsoever. Contrast this with Liam Brady who had it written into his Juve contract that he would be released for all Rep of Ireland matches incl friendlies!

Young guys. Get too much money, and partly as a consequence have everyone telling them how important they are.

Same can happen to musicians. Get that much cash and acclaim that early in your life and it is very hard not to be a pr1ck.

Credit to the ones who are not.

[Bosco]

International Football is rubbish, dont blame them for not wanting to play

[Amz]

Fair enough if they don't want to play, but a bit of manners wouldn't go amiss. Ignoring phone calls and not talking to the management, even if it's to tell them to PFO, is pretty spineless.

[Logorrhea]

McCarthy is Scottish isnt he? I know hes declared for Ireland from a young enough age but wasnt he born and bred in Scotland? If so, that answers your question.

[brummie-leinster-man]

I'm looking at the game now and there must be less than 10,000 people there, the place looks empty. Maybe they'd rather play rugby

[MelbourneRebel]

I'm looking at the game now and there must be less than 10,000 people there, the place looks empty. Maybe they'd rather play rugby

Who thought they would see the day when even the lowest profile Leinster games (Aironi) would have bigger attendances than senior Irish international football games.

[brummie-leinster-man]

I'm looking at the game now and there must be less than 10,000 people there, the place looks empty. Maybe they'd rather play rugby

Who thought they would see the day when even the lowest profile Leinster games (Aironi) would have bigger attendances than senior Irish international football games.

Exactly! I would have thought Republic V Northern Ireland would draw a crowd, even on a Tuesday. If England were playing Wales last night Wembley would be at least half full I reckon. Still though, its a great reflection on Irish rugby when Leinster fill the place for a cup match

[fourthirtythree]

Maybe it's the management and other members of the team they aren't keen on playing with? Wouldn't be the first time. There's been poor morale in the squad for years now.

As Johng said it is a great credit to players like Shay Given that he will turn up for anything, no matter how cr@p Ireland are playing, do his best, stick around until they have to drag him on to the bus answering questions and talking to everyone. We're quick to point out the arseholes but a guy like that is a real hero and a role model to any kid into sport.

[Broken Wing]

It was lovely to see the traditions of kicky ball alive and well with the little (and not so little) scrotes offering the one and two fingered salute to the Northern Ireland fans whenever Ireland scored.

[Sauvignon Blank]

Maybe it's the management and other members of the team they aren't keen on playing with? Wouldn't be the first time. There's been poor morale in the squad for years now.

As Johng said it is a great credit to players like Shay Given that he will turn up for anything, no matter how cr@p Ireland are playing, do his best, stick around until they have to drag him on to the bus answering questions and talking to everyone. We're quick to point out the arseholes but a guy like that is a real hero and a role model to any kid into sport.

Agreed
+1.

[Broken Wing]

No doubt if they secure qualification for the Euros next year or the World Cup in 2014 there'll be a lot more interest in playing.

[West Brit]

As Johng said it is a great credit to players like Shay Given that he will turn up for anything, no matter how cr@p Ireland are playing, do his best, stick around until they have to drag him on to the bus answering questions and talking to everyone. We're quick to point out the arseholes but a guy like that is a real hero and a role model to any kid into sport.

Have we really reached the point in soccer that somebody is a hero for turning up when selected by his country and answering some questions?

[All the way back logue]

as happy as i was to see robbie keane both play and score i was disappointed that he made his way over to the NI fans to deliberately taunt them after his first goal - i would expect better from the captain of our team regardless of whatever abuse he was getting from them.

[lineens weegie army]

So you lot have this problem aswell? I thought this was an entirely Scottish probelm (that strangley disappears once a year in our now annual game versus the World Champions).

Feck sake, one of ours has pulled out of our squad to play for some pishy english club in the final of some cr@p club competition on saturday...


Oh, and you can keep McCarthy - he's shite anyway!



(Was there actually anyone there last night? didn't look like it on telly! And I suppose it will probably be even worse tonight)

[Broken Wing]

McCarthy's no show may mean he's finished. Trap's not a man known for forgiving.

A little over 15K last night. Tickets for Sunday's game against Scotland are on sale from €30 to €75 (not including tickttosser charges).

[Dave Cahill]

Anthony Stokes didn't want to travel because he was "too tired".

In fairness Anthony Stokes had a tough week last week, keeping the collected hordes of the British Royal Family out of his pub. You wouldn't be up to them, they were in disguise, trying to crawl in through the toilet windows, I even heard that Lord Downpatrick grew a bad moustache and purchased a shiny tracksuit in an attempt to breech the ramparts.