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GIVEN FEARED FOR IRELAND FUTURE
by Nick Royle
Setanta Sports Ireland
http://www.setanta.com/ien/Articles/2011/10/03/Given-feared-for-Ireland-future/gnid-111571/
Oct 3 2011
New Villa manager Alex McLeish signed the Ireland international from
City in a £3.5million deal in July, on a five-year deal that will
see him up to his 40th birthday.
The Donegal man left Eastlands after losing his place in the City
first-team to England goalkeeper Joe Hart, and acknowledged that he
was unsure whether his lack of match-time would count against him at
international level.
When asked by Setanta Sports whether he could have lost his Ireland
place in the 2010 season, where he played just three Europa League
and one Carling Cup game for his club, he replied; "Easily. And I
could still lose my place this season even if playing regularly. It
is all about staying on top of your game. Last year, I was ring-rusty,
not playing every week in the Premier League.
"This year I have benefited playing more regularly. Going into Ireland
games, I feel sharper and more prepared than I did last year."
Given is delighted that Ireland have a real chance to qualify for
Euro 2012, after Armenia's shock 4-0 win in Slovakia set up a four-way
shoot out for the outright qualification and play-off place in Group B.
"Slovakia have to win their game at home to Russia to stay in the
qualification campaign. If that were the case, and we won our two
games (against Andorra on October 7 and Armenia on October 11),
we would qualify top of the group," he explained.
"But that is easily said. Anything can happen, because Russia are a top
team who could go to Slovakia and win. Then it will be a shootout for
second place, with Armenia coming hard behind us as well by picking
up results in the last few games.
Keith Fahey's late goal in Yerevan in September of last year gave
Ireland a narrow 1-0 win in the away game, and Given believes Armenia's
results since then proved that their performance that night was not
a fluke.
"Armenia is a tough game," he acknowledged.
"We have to concentrate on Andorra away first, but, depending on what
happens in the Slovakia-Russia game, it could be a massive game for
both countries.
by Nick Royle
Setanta Sports Ireland
http://www.setanta.com/ien/Articles/2011/10/03/Given-feared-for-Ireland-future/gnid-111571/
Oct 3 2011
New Villa manager Alex McLeish signed the Ireland international from
City in a £3.5million deal in July, on a five-year deal that will
see him up to his 40th birthday.
The Donegal man left Eastlands after losing his place in the City
first-team to England goalkeeper Joe Hart, and acknowledged that he
was unsure whether his lack of match-time would count against him at
international level.
When asked by Setanta Sports whether he could have lost his Ireland
place in the 2010 season, where he played just three Europa League
and one Carling Cup game for his club, he replied; "Easily. And I
could still lose my place this season even if playing regularly. It
is all about staying on top of your game. Last year, I was ring-rusty,
not playing every week in the Premier League.
"This year I have benefited playing more regularly. Going into Ireland
games, I feel sharper and more prepared than I did last year."
Given is delighted that Ireland have a real chance to qualify for
Euro 2012, after Armenia's shock 4-0 win in Slovakia set up a four-way
shoot out for the outright qualification and play-off place in Group B.
"Slovakia have to win their game at home to Russia to stay in the
qualification campaign. If that were the case, and we won our two
games (against Andorra on October 7 and Armenia on October 11),
we would qualify top of the group," he explained.
"But that is easily said. Anything can happen, because Russia are a top
team who could go to Slovakia and win. Then it will be a shootout for
second place, with Armenia coming hard behind us as well by picking
up results in the last few games.
Keith Fahey's late goal in Yerevan in September of last year gave
Ireland a narrow 1-0 win in the away game, and Given believes Armenia's
results since then proved that their performance that night was not
a fluke.
"Armenia is a tough game," he acknowledged.
"We have to concentrate on Andorra away first, but, depending on what
happens in the Slovakia-Russia game, it could be a massive game for
both countries.