Giovanni Trapattoni has picked Seamus Coleman and Jonathan Walters in his side to face Germany on Friday night, but Shane Long is again kept on the bench.
By Declan Whooley
There had been a great deal of speculation about the composition of midfield and our striking options with a number of key injuries, but Trap appears to have picked a team built on a gameplan of containment – for a change.
James McCarthy, Keith Fahey and Keith Andrews will line up in the middle, with Aiden McGeady on the left and either Simon Cox or Walters on the other wing.
Cox would appear more likely to play out wide given previous selections which leaves the Stoke forward leading the line up front.
Though Trap would seem a little unsure as to what way the team will line up. He has reportedly said this afternoon that the team will play either 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, but ‘we will not decide until we are on the pitch’. Quite reassuring against a side of the Germany’s calibre.
Positive news comes in the form that Seamus Coleman gets his first competitive start at right back, with Stephen Ward on the other flank.
Darren O’Dea partners captain for the night John O’Shea at the heart of the defence in front of Kieran Westwood.
Ireland starting XV v Germany: Kieran Westwood; Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea (c), Darren O’Dea, Stephen Ward; Simon Cox, Keith Fahey, James McCarthy, Keith Andrews, Aiden McGeady; Jonathan Walters.
