By David Gold
May 30 – Kevin Foley is the highest profile casualty from the Republic of Ireland squad for the 2012 European Championship, while Russia coach Dick Advocaat has named uncapped defender Kirill Nababkin in his squad to alleviate an injury crisis.
Defender-cum-midfielder Foley (pictured top), of relegated Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, has been recovering from a hamstring injury – but Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has opted instead to select Paul McShane, who plays in the Championship with Hull City, for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
Trapattoni’s thinking was swayed by the current fitness levels of defenders John O’Shea of Sunderland, Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne, Leicester City’s Sean St Ledger and Darren O’Dea of newly crowned Scottish Premier League champions Glasgow Celtic, who have all suffered knocks in the build-up to the tournament which kicks off next month.
“With the injuries that we experienced in the squad over the past week, I have had to make a tough decision when he comes to naming the 23 players that must be submitted to UEFA for the championship,” Trapattoni explained.
“Although Kevin has been recovering well, I have made the difficult decision to leave him out of the list after completing fitness tests on John O’Shea and Paul McShane.
“I have spoken to him and understand how difficult it is, saying that he can remain with the squad if he wishes.”
Ireland’s hopes could rest largely on captain Robbie Keane (pictured above), currently playing for LA Galaxy in the United States, who is Ireland’s record goalscorer and caps holder having netted 53 times in 116 appearances.
They will also hope that winger James McClean can repeat his impressive form for Sunderland this season.
The Irish face a tough task if they are to qualify from a group including European heavyweights Italy and Spain, the reigning champions, as well as Croatia.
Russia boss Advocaat has suffered a double blow with injuries ruling out Vasili Berezutski and Lokomotiv Moscow’s Roman Shishkin from the championship.
Berezutski would have formed one of the tournament’s strongest defences alongside centre back Sergei Ignashevich and in front of goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev – all three of whom play for CSKA Moscow.
CSKA teammate Kirill Nababkin (pictured above) has therefore been called up in the absence of Berezutski.
“We had to call up Nababkin because we were short in defence,” explained Advocaat.
“In case something happens to our starting right back, Alexander Anyukov, he could give us some cover.”
Advocaat is likely to build his midfield around Anyukov’s Zenit St Petersburg team-mates Igor Denisov and Roman Shirokov.
Andrei Arshavin, on loan to Zenit from Arsenal, will captain the team and hope to rediscover the attacking partnership with Lokomotiv Moscow’s Roman Pavlyuchenko which helped Russia reach the semi-finals of Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.
Russia face Poland, Czech Republic and Greece in what appears to be the weakest of the four groups and will be confident of progress to the last eight.
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