Ireland unchanged for Cyprus trip

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni on Friday named an unchanged squad for the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in Nicosia on September 5.

The Italian has selected the same 24 men he did for the 3-0 friendly defeat by Australia earlier this month.

Ireland are currently in second place in Group Eight, a point behind world champions Italy having played a game more.

After the match in Nicosia, Ireland will then play a friendly, against South Africa at Thomond Park in Limerick, three days later.

Ireland squad:

Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Man City), Keiren Westwood (Coventry), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe)

Defenders: John O’Shea (Man Utd), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Richard Dunne (Man City), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Kevin Kilbane (Hull), Eddie Nolan (Preston), Sean St Ledger (Preston)

Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Damien Duff (Fulham), Darron Gibson (Man Utd), Glenn Whelan (Stoke), Keith Andrews (Blackburn), Liam Miller (Unattached), Stephen Hunt (Hull), Andy Keogh (Wolves), Liam Lawrence (Stoke)

Strikers: Caleb Folan (Hull), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Shane Long (Reading), Leon Best (Coventry).