On paper, this shouldn't even be much of a matchup. France has the players with the big names and the big money.

You know. The ones who get all the press.

Too bad you can't play a match on paper.

Gardiens de but
Shay Given (Manchester City, Ang)
Keiren Westwood (Conventry City, Ang)
Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United, Ang)

Défenseurs
John O'Shea (Manchester United, Ang)
Richard Dunne (Aston Villa, Ang)
Stephen Kelly (Fulham, Ang)
Kevin Kilbane (Hull City, Ang)
Eddie Nolan (Preston North End, Ang)
Sean St.

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The European World Cup play-offs were drawn today (October 19) and the Republic of Ireland have drawn 1998 winners France. The Irish will have to beat the French if they are to make it to South Africa and the game should be a cracking occassion.

Of course the French are the favourites with the World Cup 2010 betting odds.

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Big Jack: The Waterboy

As age catches up with us, cynicism is a number of unwanted traits we acquire. Suddenly, scanning through the history of our lives, we focus on memories of our younger years. We scoff sneerly at pastimes, hobbies, favoured television programmes, fashion sense and cringe at times when we embarrassed ourselves through the folly of our youth.

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Shay Given will captain Ireland in Wednesday night's final World Cup qualifier against Montenegro as he wins his 100th senior international cap.
Manager Giovanni Trapattoni has handed the 33-year-old Donegal man the captain's armband as he and full-back Kevin Kilbane each complete a century to leave themselves only two adrift of Steve Staunton, Ireland's most-capped player. Click to continue reading...

By Wednesday night the make up of the automatic UEFA qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup finals will be known and it is at least possible, if not likely, that there will be one or two surprises amongst them. Serbia, for example, only need one win from their two remaining matches against Romania and Austria to condemn France to second place in their group, whilst it is almost certain that, in spite of having two comfortable home matches against Hungary and Malta as their final two fixtures, the "lottery of the play-offs" will be the best that Portugal will be able to manage and they might yet even lose out on second place to one of Denmark, Sweden or even Hungary.

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John O'Shea is out of Ireland's team to face South Africa in a friendly in Limerick this evening.
The defender has returned to Manchester United to have scans on a calf problem.
Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni said the 28-year-old had been sent back to his club in an effort to prevent the damage from getting any worse. Click to continue reading...

Get back to where you once belonged
17 Premier League Players and The Countries They Should Be Playing For, Based On Their Country Of Birth
1. Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham and Cameroon France)
2. Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth and Algeria France)
3. George Boateng (Hull City and Netherlands Ghana)
4. Click to continue reading...

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has announced a 24 man squad for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup group 8 qualifier against Cyprus in Nicosia on September 5 and the friendly against South Africa on September 8.
Trapattoni said, "We have put ourselves in a good position in the qualification group going into this game. Click to continue reading...

I thought this might be interesting, feel free to get involved. If it works I'll make it a regular thing during games.

Teams
Spurs
1. Heurelho Gomes
2. Alan Hutton
22. Vedran Corluka
19. Sebastien Bassong
32. Benoit Assou-Ekotto
7.

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Thomond Park hosted Ireland and the Socceroos last night in a game that Ireland should have taken in their stride. Cahill got the Aussies in front after 38 mins. Giovanni Trapattoni had obviously given a good pre match speech because Ireland did give it all they had , but with so many premiership players on the pitch it was definitely a night of "Could have done better".

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Ireland manager, Giovanni Trapattoni, has named a 24- man squad to face Australia in Thomond Park on Wednesday, 12 August
Goalkeepers
Shay Given Manchester City
Kieren Westwood Coventry City
Joe Murphy Scunthorpe United
Defenders
John O'Shea Manchester United
Kevin Foley Wolves
Richard Dunne Manchester City
Stephen Kelly Fullham
Kevin Kilbane Hull City
Eddie Nolan Preston North End
Sean St. Click to continue reading...

Giovanni Trapattoni today named a squad of 25 players for the forthcoming International friendly against Nigeria on May 29 in London
Ireland Squad:
Goalkeepers
Shay Given - Manchester City
Dean Kiely - West Brom
Keiren Westwood - Coventry City
Defence
Eddie Nolan - Preston North End
Sean St. Click to continue reading...

There are only three outfield players in the history of world football to play 50 or more consecutive competitive games for their country. The first was Wolverhampton Wanderers and England legend Billy Wright, the first player ever to reach 100 international caps. The second was Theodoris Zagorakis, the captain of the Greece side that won UEFA EURO 2004. Click to continue reading...

Robbie Keane kept Ireland's dreams of automatic qualification for the World Cup finals in South Africa alive with a late equaliser to deny ten-man Italy victory.
The Tottenham striker stabbed home an 87th-minute shot in Bari to claim a point that keeps Ireland within touching distance of the Italians at the top of Group Eight. Click to continue reading...

Tomorrow sees the clash of the top two in Group 8 qualifying from next year's World Cup as Italy host Ireland in Bari (K.O. 8.50 pm Local time).

After Italy's win away to Montenegro last Saturday courtesy of two goals from Pirlo & Pazzini, they stand two points clear of the pack. Ireland will be disappointed to have dropped 2 points at home to Bulgaria, a Kevin Kilbane own goal equalising for the visitors after Richard Dunne put the Boys in Green ahead after just 36 seconds.

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Ireland defender Richard Dunne admitted to some "disappointment" after yesterday evenings draw at home to Bulgaria - but is still confident of progression from World Cup Qualifying Group Eight.
Ireland scored via Dunne after only 40 seconds at Croke Park but were pegged back by a Kevin Kilbane own goal in the second half. Click to continue reading...

Moody Italian picks on Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane is not a bad sort of bloke. He always comes across as an honest professional, a hard worker who has done the best with the talents he has been given. He keeps his head down and gets on with his job. None of these things could [.. Click to continue reading...

A few transfer rumours and dealings going on today, Hull City have signed Wigans Kevin Kilbane on a 2 and a half year deal for an undisclosed fee, and Tottenham have been linked with a £10 million bid for Wigan's midfielder Palacious. Wigan have rejected this offer apparently, and Spurs look set to up their [. Click to continue reading...

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BBC - Bristol City manager Gary Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"QPR have some good players. In possession they are very good - especially three or four of the foreign lads - but we are a good team in possession too."
"We'll want to wrestle it off them and create more opportunities than we did at Crewe. Click to continue reading...

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named a 22 man squad for the August 20 senior international friendly against Norway in Oslo.
The squad includes six players who were not involved in the May internationals against Serbia and Colombia.
Among this group is Liverpool defender Steve Finnan who has responded positively to Trapattoni's request to reverse his decision to retire from international football. Click to continue reading...

Sweeping from the left A goal only he could score Zinedine Kilbane If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! Bookmark to: Click to continue reading...