Big names excluded for Serbia clash

Giovanni Trapattoni was in Donegal today to announce his squad for the upcoming friendly with Serbia in Belgrade, on August 15th. The announcement, held in Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey, was part of the FAI’s AGM and Festival of Football based in Donegal this year.

It is the first squad selected since Ireland’s disappointing Euro 2012 campaign, and there are several omissions from the squad that travelled to Poland. Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Keith Andrews, Robbie Keane, Stephen Hunt and Damien Duff are all left out, with Trapattoni giving younger players an opportunity in the Serbia clash. He has confirmed that no players have retired from International football, and that the excluded players are still in his plans.

Kevin Foley has been omitted, with Trapattoni saying that the Wolves defender said that he was ‘still disappointed and not ready just yet.’

There are call-ups for Marc Wilson, Seamus Coleman, Keith Treacy and Andy Keogh, while James McCarthy returns to the fold having missed the European Championships. Manchester United winger Robbie Brady and Everton defender Shane Duffy have both been left out of the squad, to link up with Noel King’s Under 21 side for a must-win qualifier.

Goalkeepers: Keiren Westwood, David Forde, Darren Randolph

Defenders: Marc Wilson, John O’Shea, Sean St. Ledger, Darren O’Dea, Stephen Ward, Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane

Midfielders: Glenn Whelan, Darron Gibson, James McCarthy, Paul Green, Seamus Coleman, Aiden McGeady, James McClean, Keith Treacy

Forwards: Kevin Doyle, Andy Keogh, Shane Long, Simon Cox, Jon Walters