GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI HAS named the Ireland side for Monday night’s Euro 2012 clash against Italy, resisting the opportunity to play some of the fringe members of the squad.
With Ireland already eliminated from the competition, it had been hoped that Trapattoni would give the likes of James McClean, Jonathan Walters, Shane Long and Darron Gibson a game ahead of a tough World Cup qualifying campaign.
Not so.
Instead, the Italian has opted to start with the same jaded first XI that began the Croatia game and went on to lose 3-1.
Team: Given, O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Ward, Duff, Whelan, Andrews, McGeady, Keane, Doyle.
Kevin Doyle, dropped for Simon Cox in the mauling against Spain, comes back in for the West Brom man in the only change to Trapattoni’s team.
Damien Duff will captain Ireland, as the Fulham winger celebrates winning his 100th cap.
The 33-year-old Dubliner made his debut for Ireland back in 1998 and was a key player during the 2002 World Cup.
Duff has given no indication that he is set to follow Shay Given by quitting the international scene, and is expected to be available to Trapattoni when qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 gets under way.
Given has indicated that he will step aside and concentrate on his club career, though his retirement is not confirmed yet.
