Potter injury blow for Ireland : aka the "we're fucked now" thread.

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Wolves midfielder Darren Potter has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2008 qualifier against Germany at Croke Park on Saturday.

Other injury doubts John O'Shea and Andy Reid did take a limited part in training on Friday morning and their chances of lining out have improved.

O'Shea has a leg injury while Reid has been troubled by an ankle problem.

Potter has a groin injury but he could come back into contention for Wednesday's game against Cyprus.

The Wolves player impressed in the friendly win over Denmark in August.

Stephen Elliott, Stephen Carr, Stephen Ireland and Andy O'Brien pulled out of the Republic squad earlier this week.


606: DEBATE
Give your thoughts on Stephen Ireland's withdrawal

Paul McShane is suspended for Saturday's game and Republic boss Steve Staunton said on Friday morning that O'Shea will partner Richard Dunne in central defence if he is declared fit on Saturday.

Manchester City midfielder Ireland pulled out on Tuesday, saying he "would not do his country or himself justice" after his controversial withdrawal from the last qualifier against the Czech Republic.

Ireland withdrew citing the death of a grandmother, but he later admitted he had made it up as he wanted to be with his partner who had suffered a miscarriage.

The Republic must beat Germany to keep alive their slim hopes of qualifying for the finals.

Republic of Ireland squad:

Colgan (Barnsley), Doyle (Birmingham), Given (Newcastle), Dunne (Manchester City), Finnan (Liverpool), Kelly (Birmingham), McShane (Sunderland), O'Shea (Manchester United), Carsley (Everton), Douglas (Leeds), Hunt (Reading), Bruce (Ipswich), Kilbane (Wigan), McGeady (Celtic), O'Brien (Hibernian), Potter (Wolves), Reid (Charlton), Miller (Sunderland), Doyle (Reading), Keane (Tottenham), Keogh (Wolves), Long (Reading), Murphy (Sunderland)

[homer jay]

don't worry, i'm sure o'shea will be fine :-(

[Edmund Blackwater]

Are there no young Irish lads at Arsenal?

[Tod Unctious]

Stan'll have to wrap Kevin Kilbane in cotton wool, it would be a disaster if a training ground injury ruled him out a game already deprived of Andy O'Brien and possibly John O'Shea !

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

I just hope Andy Reid hasn't lost his trademark bulk.

[st finnbar]

Are there no young Irish lads at Arsenal?

no and no english either, their youngsters are thieved from other clubs:???:

[Sound]

no and no english either, their youngsters are thieved from other clubs:???:

Not like the great Mancunian Dong dynasty.

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Joey o Brien is likely to be fit.

The blood is up for the self named Gaffa.

Steve Staunton has used alleged comments by German Football officials to try and fire up his players ahead of Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier.

The Republic of Ireland boss claimed a "very high-up" delegation derided his team, Croke Park and the Irish fans after the game against Wales in March.

However, it has been revealed that the delegation was three little-known German Football Federation officials.

"We will use that to motivate the players," insisted Staunton.

The German officials at the centre of the controversy were DFB head of ticketing Katja Sichtig, head of events Peter Radziwill and security chief Martin Spitzl.

Staunton claimed that Irish players and supporters would have been annoyed by the Germans' comments.

"They weren't very complimentary about Croke Park, about the crowd and the atmosphere in the ground not being very good, or about our chances," said the Republic manager.

"They said the pitch was too far away from the supporters and the fans did not have an effect on the team.


It certainly helps it's a night-time game

Steve Staunton

"If they had been there for the Slovakia game then they might have come away with a different attitude."

When asked who made the accusations, Staunton replied: "I'm not going to name names, but it was a German delegation, very high up."

Despite Staunton's apparent annoyance, there was a widespread perception of a subdued atmosphere at Croke Park during the game against Wales in March as the Republic struggled to claim a 1-0 win.

The atmosphere against the Slovaks was vastly different, notably because it was an evening kick-off for which Irish fans are always more vocal and fervent and Staunton is pleased that Saturday's game is a 1945 BST start.

"It certainly helps it's a night-time game. It always does. There is a special atmosphere, a different feel about it. Anybody will tell you that."

It is a game the Republic have to win if they are to keep alive their threadbare hopes of qualification.


They have to win their remaining three matches, whilst at the same time hoping the Czech Republic fail to acquire the three points they need from their final trio of games to claim the runners-up spot.

Unbeaten Germany, who have dropped just two points from their eight matches, need only a draw to guarantee their place in the finals in Switzerland and Austria next year.