MARY HANNIGANlooks at who the sticker album people selected in their squad – and will swap you three Xavis and four Iniestas for one Jon Walters
THAT’S THE problem with squad selections, you can’t squeeze everyone in, so disappointment – heartbreak, even – is unavoidable.
And so it is with the selection of the Republic of Ireland’s squad for Euro 2012. Séamus Coleman and Simon Cox might have had some concerns about missing out – but they’re in. For James McClean and James McCarthy, though, there’s nothing but dismay – both have been excluded, despite impressive form for Sunderland and Wigan.
All the pair can hope is that Giovanni Trapattoni doesn’t go down the same selection route as the Panini stickers people, for it is they who have shown a conservative streak, opting not to give youth its fling, omitting the two James.
Paul Green is another Irish player to miss out, and there are no call-ups for Anthony Stokes, Paul McShane, Ciarán Clark or Marc Wilson, to name but a few of the unlucky souls, while those calling for the inclusion of Norwich pair of Wesley Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington will also be gutted.
Come summer, then, none of these players will be involved in the frantic transfer activity that usually takes place between Panini devotees; there’ll be no offering, say, three Jon Walters and two Stephen Kellys for a single McClean.
(Conspiracy theorists have, of course, made wild allegations against Panini over the years, claiming they produced some players in bulk, but rationed others, just to force folk to keep buying. It was, need it be said, a scurrilous allegation, but if anyone has Arthur Albiston they’ll get 74 Peter Shiltons and 112 Derek Mountfields in return – and you can’t say fairer than that).
Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi, meanwhile, have been left out of the Italian squad, Panini not prepared to wait for the former to recover from a heart problem and the latter a knee injury.
Happily for Cassano, who returned to action a fortnight ago, Italian manager Cesare Prandelli is showing more patience, revealing, when told about Panini’s selection, that “in the album I have at home, Cassano is there”.
He did add, though, that “I want Antonio there with a smile, so his cheerfulness levels will determine his Euro 2012 prospects.
Mario Balotelli is, though, definitely there, despite Prandelli insinuating the Manchester City man has a screw loose.
“Why always me?” Richard Dunne might ask.
There were no major surprises in the Spanish selection – provided you don’t count the inclusion of Fernando Torres as a shock – with the list of names once again underlining how weak the world champions are in the midfield department: if you exclude Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Silva, Alonso, Mata and Sergio Busquets there’s really very little to worry Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan.
Jack Wilshere, meanwhile, will have been buoyed by news he’s made it into the England squad, despite being ruled out of Euro 2012 on Monday.
Back to the Irish squad and Panini very kindly sent us a big picture of the player stickers.
It’s hard not to conclude that Trapattoni’s men all look scared witless, not least Shay Given, who’s glancing nervously to his left, possibly envisioning spotting Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Silva, Alonso, Mata and Sergio Busquets in the line-up beside him at anthems time on June 14th.
Mind you, the Spanish might take one look at Jon Walters’ moustache and decide they’re a bit afraid themselves. They might even trade three Xavis and four Iniestas for those spine-chilling whiskers.
Deal?
Deal.
