Stephen Kenny on World Cup qualification: ‘It is a six month campaign between now and November, rather than the 18 months of the past’

Unsurprisingly Stephen Kenny was focussing on Serbia and the World Cup campaign when he spoke with the media on Thursday afternoon, sidestepping questions relating to Damien Duff's and Alan Kelly’s departure from his coaching set up. 

Instead he was emphasising the crop of young talent that is coming through into his senior team as they face into this short World Cup qualification campaign.

The Ireland ‘boss-man’ named a 29-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Luxembourg (and a friendly against Qatar) later this month. 

It was a larger squad than normally named by Kenny reflecting a few injury concerns around Caoimhin Kelleher, James McClean and Aaron Connolly.

“I’ve great respect for the contributions of Alan Kelly and Damien Duff for Irish football,” said Kenny on the Zoom press conference from FAI HQ.

“We would rather focus on the players that we’ve got. We’ve got 12 players who have come through the international under-21 into the senior team. We have them from the four provinces of Ireland. 

“Grass roots clubs are producing players with the National League clubs or going to England. We didn’t have that for a long time. We want to have a system where we have a continuous crew of players coming through. That has to be the ambition. 

“People say we don’t have emerging players. What does the FAI stand for? What is the reason for its existence? This is a strong reason for its existence. Grassroots club infiltrate players who grow into international under age teams and then the senior team. The culmination is the World Cup qualifiers next week in Serbia.”

The road to Qatar and the 2022 World Cup starts with that away match followed by a home qualifier against Luxembourg. “The players understand World Cup qualification is unique. We haven’t done so since 2002.

"We understand that it is a difficult thing to do. There are only eight games. Nearly half of Serbia’s campaign is in March as they have three games. It is unusual. 

“It is a six month campaign between now and November, rather than the 18 months of the past. It is huge motivation for the players. We have learned a lot in the last few months with the three game windows. It is new for international football. There are only eight games and a good start can put you in a good position.

“Serbia have seven or eight attacking players playing at top clubs around Europe. It is difficult to know which three they’ll pick. They have such depth but we have to focus on getting ourselves right for the game. 

“We saw contrasting performances from Serbia. They are a good team. They haven’t always been the most consistent of teams.”

In relation to two Irish players who have struggled to find form this season, Kenny noted that  “we know that Shane Duffy has had a tough year. He has never let Ireland down. He has played when he has been injured. He’s played three games in six days. Put everything on the line for Ireland and we shouldn’t forget that. 

“It fair to say that Troy Parrott is unlikely to start against Serbia. He has found goals hard to come by since he started playing in the Championship and League One. His work rate is exceptional. He gives everything for the team, all the time.”

Republic of Ireland squad - Serbia, Luxembourg & Qatar

Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Gavin Bazunu (Rochdale, on loan from Manchester City), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Kieran O'Hara (Burton Albion).

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Kevin Long (Burnley), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), Cyrus Christie (Nottingham Forest).

Midfielders: Conor Hourihane (Swansea City, on loan from Aston Villa), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Jayson Molumby (Preston North End, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Jason Knight (Derby County), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht).

Wingers: Robbie Brady (Burnley), James McClean (Stoke City), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City).

Strikers: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Shane Long (AFC Bournemouth, on loan from Southampton), James Collins (Luton Town), Troy Parrott (Ipswich Town, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).

Gavin Bazunu included in Ireland squad as Kenny names four goalkeepers who between them have four senior caps https://t.co/qfmMdPrYJ9pic.twitter.com/LPVZKM9RpB

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) March 18, 2021