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GIVEN FEARS ARMENIA THREAT
By Aidan Fitzmaurice
http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/given-fears-armenia-threat-2901116.html
Monday October 10 2011
Given says Armenia artillery a big threat to Irish in Aviva showdown
IT'S ALMOST a year since Shay Given conceded a goal while on Ireland
duty - but the Aston Villa keeper fears that Armenia's free-scoring
forwards pose a real threat to his goal in Dublin tomorrow night.
Ireland's defensive record -- eight successive games now without
a goal conceded -- is a run that any national team would envy, and
Given and his co-workers in Ireland's back four are justifiably proud
of that run.
Due to injury, Given hasn't played in all of those games, so the last
time he was beaten in an international was last November, when Norway
struck twice to snatch a 2-1 win in a friendly in Dublin.
Given is now on a personal clean-sheet run after denying teams like
Croatia, Slovakia, Russia and Andorra since the season started, one
of his most consistent runs since he took his steps in international
football against Russia way back in 1996.
But arrogance and over-confidence are not part of Given's DNA. Not in a
week as important as this and not against a team as potent as Armenia.
Only five nations have scored more goals in the Euro 2012 qualifiers
(Holland, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Hungary), while few countries can
match Armenia's recent run of 11 goals in their last three qualifiers,
and the Armenians have failed to score just twice in this campaign:
at home to Ireland and Russia.
"We've done so well over the last few games. Our clean sheet record
is second to none. But that's all on the line now as Armenia are such
a threat. They've scored eight goals in the last two games and their
confidence is sky-high," Given told the Herald.
Problems
"It's going to be a tough game but if we can get the fans right
behind us, get a full house and get the place rocking, we have a
great chance. Hopefully we can cause them problems instead of them
causing problems for us.
"We could do with a bit of the old atmosphere here tomorrow night.
Whatever people have been saying or writing, we need to get the place
rocking with the whole crowd behind us, let the Armenians know they're
in for a game."
Phrases like "there are no easy games in international football" seep
out of the mouth of footballers all across Europe, but for people
like Given, the phrase has meaning: as the keeper and the last line
of defence, he's the one who has to prove it.
That means that Given is scrutinised when teams like Andorra (2001
and 2010) score against him.
It also means that he has to stay sharp for 90 minutes even though
most other people in the ground or watching on TV are heading towards
drowsiness from boredom, as happened in last week's game in Andorra.
"Friday was a strange game for me. I didn't have much to do but I
still had to be alert," said Given.
"The pitch wasn't the best and anything can happen with a bobble or
the break of a ball on a pitch like that, it was a case of me keeping
my concentration.
"We were pretty comfortable overall and getting the win was the
main thing. But I know it will be a different kettle of fish against
Armenia. They are coming on really strong. I don't think we got the
credit we deserved for beating them 1-0 at the start of the campaign.
"That's all past history now. We have to focus on tomorrow night and
finish off the job."
Armenia come to Dublin with a young side, fired up with confidence
from that run of three straight wins in the qualifiers, two of them
away from home, but Given feels that Ireland's own strike force can
also deliver.
"We have some good attacking players and can cause them problems,"
Given said. "We just need to get a result, whatever the score or
performance."
- Aidan Fitzmaurice
From: Baghdasarian
By Aidan Fitzmaurice
http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/given-fears-armenia-threat-2901116.html
Monday October 10 2011
Given says Armenia artillery a big threat to Irish in Aviva showdown
IT'S ALMOST a year since Shay Given conceded a goal while on Ireland
duty - but the Aston Villa keeper fears that Armenia's free-scoring
forwards pose a real threat to his goal in Dublin tomorrow night.
Ireland's defensive record -- eight successive games now without
a goal conceded -- is a run that any national team would envy, and
Given and his co-workers in Ireland's back four are justifiably proud
of that run.
Due to injury, Given hasn't played in all of those games, so the last
time he was beaten in an international was last November, when Norway
struck twice to snatch a 2-1 win in a friendly in Dublin.
Given is now on a personal clean-sheet run after denying teams like
Croatia, Slovakia, Russia and Andorra since the season started, one
of his most consistent runs since he took his steps in international
football against Russia way back in 1996.
But arrogance and over-confidence are not part of Given's DNA. Not in a
week as important as this and not against a team as potent as Armenia.
Only five nations have scored more goals in the Euro 2012 qualifiers
(Holland, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Hungary), while few countries can
match Armenia's recent run of 11 goals in their last three qualifiers,
and the Armenians have failed to score just twice in this campaign:
at home to Ireland and Russia.
"We've done so well over the last few games. Our clean sheet record
is second to none. But that's all on the line now as Armenia are such
a threat. They've scored eight goals in the last two games and their
confidence is sky-high," Given told the Herald.
Problems
"It's going to be a tough game but if we can get the fans right
behind us, get a full house and get the place rocking, we have a
great chance. Hopefully we can cause them problems instead of them
causing problems for us.
"We could do with a bit of the old atmosphere here tomorrow night.
Whatever people have been saying or writing, we need to get the place
rocking with the whole crowd behind us, let the Armenians know they're
in for a game."
Phrases like "there are no easy games in international football" seep
out of the mouth of footballers all across Europe, but for people
like Given, the phrase has meaning: as the keeper and the last line
of defence, he's the one who has to prove it.
That means that Given is scrutinised when teams like Andorra (2001
and 2010) score against him.
It also means that he has to stay sharp for 90 minutes even though
most other people in the ground or watching on TV are heading towards
drowsiness from boredom, as happened in last week's game in Andorra.
"Friday was a strange game for me. I didn't have much to do but I
still had to be alert," said Given.
"The pitch wasn't the best and anything can happen with a bobble or
the break of a ball on a pitch like that, it was a case of me keeping
my concentration.
"We were pretty comfortable overall and getting the win was the
main thing. But I know it will be a different kettle of fish against
Armenia. They are coming on really strong. I don't think we got the
credit we deserved for beating them 1-0 at the start of the campaign.
"That's all past history now. We have to focus on tomorrow night and
finish off the job."
Armenia come to Dublin with a young side, fired up with confidence
from that run of three straight wins in the qualifiers, two of them
away from home, but Given feels that Ireland's own strike force can
also deliver.
"We have some good attacking players and can cause them problems,"
Given said. "We just need to get a result, whatever the score or
performance."
- Aidan Fitzmaurice
From: Baghdasarian