Trapattoni announces squad for upcoming friendly and qualifier
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Giovanni Trapattoni has named a 25 man squad for the upcoming games against Nigeria and Bulgaria.
The Boys in Green will face the Nigerians in Craven Cottage on Friday week in a friendly, while they will travel to Sofia to take on Bulgaria on June 6, in what will be pivotal to their qualification aspirations for the 2010 South African World Cup.
The squad includes six players who have yet to win a cap. They are, Coventry City's Keiran Westwood and Leon Best, Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence, the Preston North End duo of Eddie Nolan and Sean St Ledger, and Wolves defender Kevin Foley.
Trap is expected to play an experimental side at Fulham's ground. “Preparations for the game against Nigeria on May 29 will allow us to see some new players who have distinguished themselves during the course of the last season and also to welcome back players like Caleb Folan,” he said. The Italian also had some kind words to say about their African opponents, adding: “Nigeria is a powerhouse of African football, with many strong and fast players who are playing for top clubs in England and Europe. They will provide a challenging test before the very important World Cup Qualfier in Bulgaria on June 6.”
While Craven Cottage might see the debut's of the aforementioned players, the team expected to line-out against the Bulgarians eight days later will no doubt be the same as in previous qualifier's.
The squad in full is: Shay Given, Dean Kiely, Keiren Westwood; Eddie Nolan, Sean St. Ledger, John O'Shea, Kevin Foley, Paul McShane, Richard Dunne, Stephen Kelly, Kevin Kilbane; Aiden McGeady, Damien Duff, Darron Gibson, Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Liam Miller, Stephen Hunt, Andy Keogh, Liam Lawrence; Caleb Folan, Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane, Shane Long, Leon Best.
The squad includes six players who have yet to win a cap. They are, Coventry City's Keiran Westwood and Leon Best, Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence, the Preston North End duo of Eddie Nolan and Sean St Ledger, and Wolves defender Kevin Foley.
Trap is expected to play an experimental side at Fulham's ground. “Preparations for the game against Nigeria on May 29 will allow us to see some new players who have distinguished themselves during the course of the last season and also to welcome back players like Caleb Folan,” he said. The Italian also had some kind words to say about their African opponents, adding: “Nigeria is a powerhouse of African football, with many strong and fast players who are playing for top clubs in England and Europe. They will provide a challenging test before the very important World Cup Qualfier in Bulgaria on June 6.”
While Craven Cottage might see the debut's of the aforementioned players, the team expected to line-out against the Bulgarians eight days later will no doubt be the same as in previous qualifier's.
The squad in full is: Shay Given, Dean Kiely, Keiren Westwood; Eddie Nolan, Sean St. Ledger, John O'Shea, Kevin Foley, Paul McShane, Richard Dunne, Stephen Kelly, Kevin Kilbane; Aiden McGeady, Damien Duff, Darron Gibson, Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Liam Miller, Stephen Hunt, Andy Keogh, Liam Lawrence; Caleb Folan, Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane, Shane Long, Leon Best.
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