Republic held in Hungary World Soccer Shop

Shay Given and John O'Shea proved their fitness ahead of Euro 2012 as the Republic of Ireland drew 0-0 in Hungary on Monday night.

Given: Back in action for Ireland

Given excelled on his return from a knee injury before making a half-time exit, while O'Shea was given the full 90 minutes to prepare him for Sunday's opening Group C fixture against Croatia in Poznan.

With Croatia boss Slaven Bilic among the crowd, Ireland once again demonstrated the resilience which helped them qualify for the finals, although they failed to take any of the chances they created to win the game.

Defeat would have been harsh on Hungary, who controlled much of the game, and had it not been for the excellence of Given and replacement Keiren Westwood, as well as midfielder Stephen Hunt, they might have sent Giovanni Trapattoni's men on their way to Poland tomorrow on the back of a first defeat since March last year.

But the visitors survived to eclipse their 13-game unbeaten run under Brian Kerr between 2004 and 2006 and close in on Mick McCarthy's 16-game stretch more than a decade ago.

On a night when a clean bill of health was as important, if not more so, than the result, Ireland found themselves presented with a real test for a variety of reasons.

A spectacular thunderstorm over the Ferenc Puskas Stadium delayed the kick-off for 20 minutes and left the pitch slick, and once proceedings got under way Ireland found their hosts in little mood to give them an easy ride.

Trapattoni wanted both Given and O'Shea to have a good workout in their first game since the end of the Barclays Premier League season, and Given's health in particular was put to the test during the opening 45 minutes.

Dinamo Moscow midfielder Balazs Dzsudzsak was the main source of employment for the Aston Villa goalkeeper, first testing him with a skidding 17th-minute drive and then forcing him to make a fine save seconds later.

Given had already shifted his weight onto his right foot to cover another long-range effort, but after the ball took a wicked deflection he somehow managed to get back across and claw it away to safety one-handed.

His third save from Dzsudzsak did not have to be as spectacular, but he was kept on his toes throughout as Hungary, who finished third behind Holland and Sweden in qualification for the Euros, dominated for lengthy periods.

Ireland had started well and went close to the opening goal when O'Shea headed a seventh-minute Damien Duff cross onto the roof of the net.

Skipper Robbie Keane tested goalkeeper Adam Bogdan with a well-struck 14th-minute drive, but as Adam Pinter and Vladimir Koman got on top in the middle of the field, the home side began to make the running.

Richard Dunne made a perfectly-timed sliding tackle to deny Peter Szakaly a clear run on goal and Stephen Ward had to be equally resilient to dispossess striker Adam Szalai in the final minute of the half after he had worked his way into a shooting position inside the box.

The full-back needed treatment afterwards, but as Trapattoni held his breath, he returned to the field.

Given and striker Kevin Doyle did not after the break with Westwood and Jon Walters taking their place, but there was no suggestion that Given's departure was the result of anything sinister.

Westwood had little time to settle as Hungary resumed where they had left off with Sean St Ledger and Glenn Whelan having to make important blocks, before the Sunderland goalkeeper proved his worth by getting down well to keep out another Dzsudzsak shot after it had been deflected towards goal by Szalai.

But as Trapattoni rang the changes - Keane, Duff and Keith Andrews all departed in quick succession as Simon Cox, Hunt and Darron Gibson were given a run-out - Ireland began to make an impression once again.

Walters forced a rare save from Bogdan and then drilled a right-foot shot across the face of goal, but Cox might have snatched the win with 12 minutes remaining.

Dunne's towering defensive header set McGeady away and he played the ball into the path of the striker, whose shot was firm but did not elude the ever-vigilant Bogdan.

Westwood needed help six minutes from time when Imre Szabics' effort looked to be heading straight for the bottom corner, but fellow substitute Hunt was perfectly placed to clear.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17767/republic_held_in_hungary

Five-star Republic sink Tuscan XI World Soccer Shop

Discarded defender Kevin Foley played 45 minutes of the Republic of Ireland's 5-0 friendly win against a Tuscan XI on Tuesday night.

Keane: Made it 2-0

Just hours after being told he would not be going to Euro 2012 the Wolves defender was introduced as a half-time substitute in the victory over a Serie C and D representative side put together by Giovanni Trapattoni's former players, Ennio Pellegrini and Aldo Firicano.

Skipper Robbie Keane's first-half double either side of Simon Cox's strike eased the Republic out of sight by the break, and substitutes Shane Long and Jon Walters struck after it to complete the scoring on a night when the result was largely immaterial.

Foley's participation came after he had been told he was being left out of the final 23 for Poland and Ukraine despite clearly being fit with Paul McShane, who joined up last week as defensive cover, getting the nod instead.

The game, the proceeds from which were being donated to charity in memory of the late Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini, kicked off after the two teams observed a minute's silent in memory of the victims of Tuesday morning's earthquake, tremors from which were felt on Montecatini, at the Stadio Menali.

Keane set the ball rolling when he capitalised on an error by central defender Federico Settepassi to smash home a rising 18th-minute drive, and he might have made it 2-0 three minutes later after Corrado Colombo, his former Inter Milan team-mate, had hit the post at the other end, but miskicked in front of goal.

James McClean saw a 24th-minute shot beaten away by Francesco Gaffino, who produced a fine save to keep out Cox's effort from Stephen Hunt's cross, only for the striker to fire home the rebound.

Keane did help himself to a second goal after a slick build-up between Paul Green and Cox 14 minutes before the break.

Keane, McClean, Richard Dunne and Keiren Westwood made way at half-time for Long, Walters, Foley and David Forde, and the West Brom frontman hit the bar within three minutes of his arrival.

Forde had to get down well to keep out a 54th-minute strike from Gianluca Bugelli, but Long made it 4-0 after beating the offside trap 10 minutes later.

Green smashed a long-range 80th-minute shot wide after exchanging passes with Long, but Walters completed the scoring four minutes later after Foley's free-kick had been parried by substitute goalkeeper Tomasso Strambi.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17405/five_star_republic_sink_tuscan_xi

Trani delighted as Reds march on

Adelaide United assistant coach Luciano Trani could not hide his delight on Tuesday night.

A Jon McKain first half goal and a series of match-winning saves from captain and goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic secured Adelaide’s progress to the final eight of the AFC Champions League for the second time in four years with a 1-0 victory over Nagoya Grampus.

Galekovic thwarted the visitors’ attack with an array of near-impossible stops, including a speculative diving one-handed effort to deny Nagoya and Socceroo target man Josh Kennedy.

McKain’s effort to force a loose ball in from point-blank range in the 40th minute after Reds defender Iain Fyfe’s set-piece header had ensured a goalmouth scramble was enough to set up a two-legged quarter-final on September 19 and October 2-3 with a yet-to-be announced opponent.

Trani said the feeling following the win was ‘indescribable’ and would be a moment to savour for a long time as the Reds get set for a five week break before returning to prepare for the business end of the ACL and the 2012-13 A-League season.

‘What this win means for the club is indescribable really. It’s something we are very proud of,” Trani said.

“This particular tournament required high standards of performances, we have achieved that, got into the quarter-finals and can now enjoy this moment.

“We have some time from (now to) when we do play the quarter-finals to prepare, but it will give us the extra motivation through pre-season to able to continue on the success of the team and move forward for the forthcoming (A-League) season.

“Our players have become smarter and wiser for the experience in Asia, and we going to be a lot better for it.”

Trani gave honourable mentions to goalscorer McKain and his defensive partner Nigel Boogaard but reserved special praise for Galekovic.

“Eugene’s performance was outstanding alongside our two centre-back defenders in Nigel Boogaard and Jon McKain through their ability to read the situation,” Trani said.

“But Eugene obviously gave a match-winning performance.”

Nagoya coach Dragan Stojkovic also paid testament to Galekovic’s ‘match-winning performance’ but bemoaned his side’s inability to find the back of the net.

“Galekovic was absolutely fantastic today, the most valuable player and hero of the game – his saves were incredible,” Stojkovic said.

“We tried really hard to play good football and to get a result, but obviously we were not good enough up front.

“We didn’t use our chances and paid the price for not scoring goals, and the now the ACL is finished for us.

“We must find a solution as we turn our focus to the J.League.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/trani-delighted-as-reds-march-on/95474/

Serero heads home after father dies

South Africa midfielder Thulani Serero has been released from camp following the passing away of his father on Sunday night.

But the Ajax Amsterdam attacker is welcome to return to camp at any stage if he feels he can cope with the loss while serving the nation.

Bafana Bafana are in camp in Rustenburg to prepare for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 3 and Botswana in Gaborone on June 9.

“Our deepest condolences to Serero during these trying times, and we ask him to stay strong as he deals with his sad loss,” Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane said to reporters.

“Our heartfelt condolences also go to his family and we pray that they find comfort in prayer. Serero has been requested to take as much time as he wants during this difficult time and he has our support because it is not easy to lose someone close to you,” he added.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/serero-heads-home-after-father-dies/95459/

Azzurri try to focus on friendly World Soccer Shop

Italy host Luxembourg in a Euro 2012 warm-up friendly match in Parma on Tuesday night with the country gripped by a new match-fixing scandal.

Albertini: Addresses press on Monday

Police showed up at Italy's training ground in Coverciano on Monday morning to question Zenit St Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito, who is under investigation for alleged match-fixing and sport fraud.

In mid-afternoon, the former Genoa star was among six players to be cut by Italy.

"These are things that we would not like to have had to go through," Italy football federation vice-president Demetrio Albertini said. "You can understand the bitterness in the changing room.

"The players were shocked by what has happened.

"Criscito has received a lot of support from his national team-mates considering the terrible time he is going through."

Albertini believes the latest scandal, which has seen former Italy international and current Lazio captain Stefano Mauri arrested on Monday as part of the investigation, will not hinder the Azzurri.

Italy won the 2006 World Cup in Germany despite the huge distraction of a match-fixing scandal.

"I am not worried about the European Championship," Albertini said. "I wasn't before and I am not now.

"I already went through the one of 2006.

"I only hope that it brings good luck just as it did back then.

"We have a solid squad made of genuine people.

"I know the players will be able to manage situation as this one."

Coach Cesare Prandelli, who will name his final Euro 2012 squad on Tuesday, is set to hand AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano a place in the starting XI against Luxembourg at the Ennio Tardini stadium.

Cassano will lead Italy's attack alongside Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli has returned to the squad after being left out of a friendly against the United States in February as punishment for a four-game suspension for violent conduct while on club duty.

Rivals Luxembourg travel to Italy looking to pick up where they left off in their 2-1 friendly triumph over FYR Macedonia back in February.

Elvesberg striker Maurice Deville, who struck twice in that game, will make his third appearance for his country.

Luc Holtz is set to hand midfielder Rene Peters his 87th cap to equal Carlo Weis' record of most appearances for the national team.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17313/azzurri_try_to_focus_on_friendly