Image via Wikipedia The presence of Giovanni Trapattoni continued to grow even at the Stadio de France and things were turning to be dramatic during the first half as Ireland scored in about the 32nd minute to show that they were in the groove and it reflected the score line predicted by Trapattoni the earlier [. Click to continue reading...

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Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is unlikely to make any changes for Wednesday's World Cup play-off second leg against France in Paris.

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The first legs of the European World Cup play-offs took place yesterday (Saturday) and Russia, Portugal and France all take slender advantages into their second legs.

Portugal managed to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 in Lisbon in their first leg. With Cristiano Ronaldo ruled out of the tie through injury the Portuguese had to rely on the likes of Simao Sabrosa, Liedson and Deco for their creative spark but all three were guilt of below-par performances.

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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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Late Drama

It was the sort of goal that you would expect the team leading 2-1, rather than those chasing the game at the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline, to get. Catching the opposition out on the break with a swift counter-attack in the 90th minute to put the gloss on a convincing 3-1 triumph.

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The Republic of Ireland almost won against World Champions Italy at Croke Park tonight.The Irish took the lead twice, first from a great goal by Glenn Whelan from a Liam Lawrence corner only to be pegged back by a goal from Camoranesi from an Andre Pirlo corner.The Irish matched the Italians throughout the game and it looked like it was heading for a 1-1 draw until Sean St Ledger nodded a free-kick past Buffon in the 87th minute and it looked like Trappatoni's team were going to beat Italy for a famous victory. Click to continue reading...

Crunch time at Croke Park.

Liam Lawrence has been handed his first competitive Republic of Ireland start for
Saturday's World Cup Group Eight qualifier against Italy at Croke Park.
The Stoke midfielder gets the nod ahead of Stephen Hunt and replaces the injured Damien Duff on the right.

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Two dislocated fingers and a fractured bone in his hand, yup, he's in my team
After a mid-week of what some are calling quite "boring" Champions League fixtures, we return to domestic action this weekend, and to the fantasy Premier League. Last week, our gameweek "picks" - the best team money can buy for under 100M - put up another 78 points led by Bent (18) O'Shea (15) and Huddlestone (8), so let's see if we can keep the hot streak going. Click to continue reading...

United should expect a tough match against the Potters.

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Sir Alex Ferguson made 11 changes to his side for the midweek Carling Cup visit of Wolves and could do the same again for Saturday's trip to Stoke.

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These two sides were separated by one piece of magic from Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence.

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Six straight losses that is.Stoke midfielder Liam Lawrence's curling and dipping free kick on display below was the cause of their latest defeat. Liam's first international goal made it 1 - 0 for Ireland in a friendly played in Limerick and the 6th loss for S Africa.

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A great free-kick by man of the match Liam Lawrence gave Ireland victory over South Africa in Limerick tonight.
Stoke City midfielder Lawrence set a curling and dipping 37th-minute strike beyond the dive of South Africa goalkeeper Fernandez.
Speaking after the game Lawrence said he was "absolutely delighted" to score and said "everyone had given a good account of themselves"
The decisive goal came against the run of play as South Africa had created a lot of early pressure. Click to continue reading...

While most countries were busy preparing for World Cup Qualifying matches on Wednesday, the Republic of Ireland hosted South Africa in an international friendly. As host of the FIFA 2010 World Cup, South Africa is guaranteed a spot next summer while the Republic of Ireland is in good position to be there as well.

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Fast Forward to 50 seconds for brilliance
You won't find a bargain player I love more in the Fantasy Premier League than Stoke's Liam Lawrence (5.5M). The free kick specialist has yet to find the back of the net for his club this season, but his first international goal today was surely a beauty. Click to continue reading...

Liam Lawrence still banging on about video games Stoke City's players have come up with a 'new' way of improving communication and team morale at the club, according to the Observer. The Potters players spend their evenings battling it out on online computer games Gears of War and Call of Duty. The trouble is that the Liam [. Click to continue reading...

Liam Lawrence is our first Funny Feeling Friday for the 2009-2010 Premier League season: basically an underrated, out of form, or unpopular (in fantasy terms) player who I have a feeling may produce on the weekend or in the short term.
Lawrence (5.5M) fits the bill for Stoke's week 1 match against Burnley. Click to continue reading...

Stoke City were very, very good to me last season. Their fixture list fell just perfect so that their last few months were a cake walk. Not that I cleaned up, but I did get good returns from Lawrence, Beattie and Wilkinson. Meanwhile, Fuller and Shawcross were point machines.
Now it's second season syndrome. Click to continue reading...

Stoke City Biggest Ins: Stoke City have only brought one player in: Dean Whitehead. He's a competent defensive midfielder and should be a day one starter. Biggest Outs: Seyi Olofinjana. I like him in the midfield, yet Tony Pulis saw him as...
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According to Richard Bailey at Sky Sports News, Stoke City winger Liam Lawrence admitted that he and the club are not far apart in working out a new deal. He said,

"I just want to get signed to stay at Stoke for the next four years ... It has been a long, difficult process and could go either way.

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According to Michael Baggaley at The Sentinel, Stoke City and Liam Lawrence have begun talks over a new deal. Lawrence said,

"I don't want to go anywhere.

I want to stay at Stoke and spend the best four years of my life here ... I have been trying to sort out a contract for a couple of weeks .

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Giovanni Trapattoni hailed the new-found richness of his squad after seeing an Ireland side featuring six debutants emerge from a rugged friendly with Nigeria with a 1-1 draw. The Africans also fielded an experimental line-up but the Irish manager said his makeshift team's display gave him renewed hope for the future. Click to continue reading...

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is sure Nigeria will provide tough opposition in their friendly at Craven Cottage on Friday.
The Italian is hoping for a meaningful test before the World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria on 6 June.
Trapattoni said "It's a very difficult game and a good test for some new players. Click to continue reading...

27 year old Stock City midfielder Liam Lawrence is hoping to get the chance to earn his first cap for the Republic of Ireland after being called up to the squad to face Nigeria on Friday. Lawrence is in the squad for the Craven Cottage game, as they prepare to face ... Click to continue reading...

Yes, yes: Football is a team sport and all that... but lately it feels like Liam Lawrence is keeping Stoke City clear of the drop all by himself. Two dazzling goals to secure key points for his side will standout as the highlights of Stoke's late climb from the danger zone.

The first was a deft piece of in-the-box maneuvering 15 minutes from time in a tense match against Blackburn Rovers.

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1. Newcastle are in big, big trouble. Looking at their fixture list, the game against Tottenham seemed to be one where they needed to pick something up. 2. With three of the Big Four in FA Cup action, the weekend was dominated by relegation talk. 3. At home to Fulham is the sort of game you ought [.. Click to continue reading...

When goals get geeky Liam Lawrence's goal against Blackburn might have virtually guaranteed Stoke stay in the Premier League next season, but it also highlighted that the Potters' players are a sheltered bunch. For the second time this season, Lawrence and James Beattie rolled out a celebration based around the shoot 'em up video game Gears [. Click to continue reading...

Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence could miss Sunday's trip to Portsmouth after tripping over his dog and injuring his ankle. Click to continue reading...

Following the news that Liam Lawrence is a doubt for Stoke City's match against Portsmouth after tripping over his dog, we look at some of football's other silly injuries. 1. Dave Beasant The crazy keeper ruled himself out of action for two-and-a-half months after dropping a jar of salad cream on his feet during the 1993 pre-season. Click to continue reading...

Chalk up another stupid sports injury as Stoke City's Liam Lawrence tripped over his dog and messed up his wrist.

Lawrence was X-rayed on Monday and although the initial scan showed no break he is a doubt for Stoke's match against Portsmouth next Sunday.

They say he tripped over his dog, but this story comes from the team website, which is likely protecting the player the best it can. Click to continue reading...

Stoke's Liam Lawrence could miss next weekend's game against Portsmouth with an ankle injury - after falling over his own dog (not pictured). A stupid way to injure yourself no doubt, but not quite brainless enough to make our top 10 Dumbest Football Injuries list: In no particular order... 1. Spanish goalkeeper Santiago Canizares missed out on [. Click to continue reading...

Tuncay's winner five minutes from time is all the difference as Middlesbrough win at the Riverside 2-1. First off it must be said that Middlesbrough were pushed to the limit. Despite being a man down for seventy minutes (if you add both first and second half stoppage time), Stoke City were resolute at the back, but [. Click to continue reading...

Photo Courtesy of the UK Sun
Tuncay's winner five minutes from time is all the difference as Middlesbrough win at the Riverside 2-1.
First off it must be said that Middlesbrough were pushed to the limit. Despite being a man down for seventy minutes (if you add both first and second half stoppage time), Stoke City were resolute at the back, but two breakdowns proved to be all the difference in this one.

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pTuncay's winner five minutes from time is all the difference as Middlesbrough win at the Riverside 2-1.br /br /First off it must be said that Middlesbrough were pushed to the limit. Despite being a man down for seventy minutes (if you add both first and second half stoppage time), Stoke City were resolute at the back, but two breakdowns proved to be all the difference in this one. Click to continue reading...

Soccerword's Premiership Team of the Week - 02

Goolkeeper: Shay Given (Newcastle)

Defenders: Brede Hangeland (Fulham), Patrice Evra (Man United), John Pantsil (Fulham), Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Deco (Chelsea), Elano (Man City), Liam Lawrence (Sunderland)

Forwards: Djibril Cisse (Sunderland), Yakubu (Everton)

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