Ireland U21s untroubled by Walcott
Republic of Ireland U21 boss Don Givens can claim to have put the shackles on a potential World Cup star earlier this week.
As part of Given’s preparations for the first leg of a European Championships preliminary round tie in Azerbaijan today, his side played a friendly against an Arsenal reserve team on Monday.
Included in the line-up was Theo Walcott, just hours away from being the shock inclusion in England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson’s World Cup squad.
Watched by England number two Tord Grip, Walcott failed to produce the kind of sparkling display all England fans will be hoping for in Germany next month, even though Arsenal won 2-1.
Givens, though, felt the teenager might have had other things on his mind.
He said: “Our game was just before the announcement about the England squad.
“When it was later confirmed he had been included, it didn’t come too much as a surprise because I had heard a whisper beforehand.
“Tord was also there and watched him play up front in the first half and wide right in the second.
“He played the full game, but I felt he was fairly quiet throughout. Maybe he was saving himself, what with the World Cup coming up.
“But I wasn’t too bothered about that. I was more concerned about getting us into shape.”
As has become customary, Givens had to contend with a host of withdrawals from his original 18-man squad.
Key players in Joey O’Brien at Bolton, Manchester City’s Stephen Ireland, Darren Potter of Liverpool, Millwall’s Colin Doyle and Glenn Whelan of Sheffield Wednesday have all withdrawn, leaving a squad of 17 for the game in Baku.
With the logistical headache of actually entering the country now behind them - the team flew in at 2am yesterday – Givens encountered another problem in training.
“Everything’s okay, but the quality of the pitch is very poor,” added Givens.
“It’s one of those things, and we have to get on with it, but it’s certainly going to make it difficult for us to attack the ball.”
Givens believes his squad remains strong enough to get a result, with the second leg at Kilkenny’s Buckley Park next Thursday.
“We’ve still a good bunch of boys, and as long as we get a decent result in this first game then I’m sure we’ll be okay,” he added.
Should the Republic win, they will face Belgium and Greece in the group stages later this year.
