Trapattoni names Ireland squad for France play-off

Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni has left out Steven Reid, Andy Reid, Steve Finnan and Clinton Morrison for November’s World Cup qualifying play-off against France.

Trapattoni drew a furious response from Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce recently when he said midfielder Steven Reid would struggle to play at the highest level again after a serious knee injury.

Reid made a goal-scoring return to action for Blackburn in a midweek League Cup tie against Peterborough but Trapattoni, who named his 25-man squad for the France clash on Friday, believes it is much to soon to consider picking him for Ireland.

The Italian has also decided to leave out Sunderland’s Andy Reid, Portsmouth defender Finnan and Coventry striker Morrison for the two-legged play-off at Croke Park on November 14 and the Stade de France on November 18.

Trapattoni believes Ireland’s unbeaten record in the qualifying campaign, including two matches against world champions Italy, is proof that they can shock France to reach next year’s finals in South Africa.

“We performed strongly throughout the qualifying group stages,” Trapattoni said. “We were undefeated in all 10 games and this is a reflection of how we have played and also the mental strength of this team.

“France have a strong squad but we go into this play-off knowing that we are only 180 minutes away from qualifying for the World Cup.”

Squad:

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

Defenders: John O’Shea (Man Utd), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Kevin Kilbane (Hull), Eddie Nolan (Preston), Sean St Ledger (Preston, on loan at Middlesbrough) Paul McShane (Hull), Darren O’Dea (Celtic, on loan at Reading)

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

Strikers: Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton), Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Shane Long (Reading), Leon Best (Coventry), Anthony Stokes (Hibernian)