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Giovanni Trapattoni: 'we build for a brighter future.' INPHO/Donall Farmer
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Update: Trap omits senior quartet for Serbia friendly

There’s no call-up for Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Shay Given and Richard Dunne, while Kevin Foley has turned down a call-up.

Updated at 6.12pm

MANAGER GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has rung the changes after Ireland’s dismal Euro 2012 performances.

The Italian has this afternoon named his first panel since the European Championships, with a pre-World Cup qualifiers friendly against Serbia on the horizon. There’s no room for skipper and all-time record goal scorer Robbie Keane, talismanic defender Richard Dunne, goalkeeper Shay Given and Damien Duff.

Wes Hoolahan has not earned the call-up he craves though Paul Green again features. Keith Andrews, who is suspended for Ireland’s first World Cup outing due to his red card against Italy, is also out. Stephen Hunt is snubbed, while Kevin Foley — who was famously ousted from the Euros panel at the last minute in Italy —  turned down a call-up, with Trapattoni explaining:

“I called Foley, and he told me he is still very disappointed. He thanked me for the call, but told me that he was still not ready because he is still disappointed.”

Meanwhile, Wigan midfielder James McCarthy returns; he opted out of the Euros due to his father’s ill health.

“This friendly offers us a great opportunity to try out younger players ahead of our World Cup qualifying campaign” Trapattoni added at the squad announcement in Donegal earlier.

“As a result, I have decided to leave some of our senior players out of the squad for this fixture. Serbia are a very good team with a great football heritage, and will provide us with a great test before our game against Kazakhstan in September.

“I am looking forward to working with each of these players next month. As we prepare for a new journey for this team, it is important that we remember our last campaign as we build for a brighter future.”

The Boys in Green travel to Belgrade on 15 August for a warm-up match ahead of their opening World Cup 2014 qualifier in Kazakhstan in September.

What do you think of Trap’s selection?

Republic of Ireland (squad to face Serbia): Westwood, Forde, Randolph, Wilson, O’Shea, St Ledger, O’Dea, Ward, Kelly, McShane, Whelan, Gibson, McCarthy, Green, Coleman, McGeady, Keogh, McClean, Treacy, Doyle, Long, Cox, Walters.

Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy

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