Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has suffered another personnel blow ahead of the World Cup opener in Kazakhstan next Friday after Everton midfielder Darron Gibson quit international football.
The Derry born midfielder has told Trap he wants to opt out of the Irish squad in protest at his lack of game time at the European Championships last summer.
Trapattoni has tried to paper over the row by claiming Gibson was going to be a major part of his World Cup plans ahead of Friday’s opening game.
But the player is believed to be seething at his lack of game time in Poland when Paul Green – who didn’t even make the original squad – was picked ahead of him as a substitute.
His departure follows the decision of Damien Duff and Shay Given to retire from international football.
Wolves midfielder Kevin Foley has also declined an invitation to rejoin the squad after his late Euro 2012 expulsion.
In a statement released by the FAI, Trapattoni said: “When Darron informed me of his decision to withdraw, I called him to talk things through.
“As we embark upon a brand new campaign, he is very much in my plans and I consider him to be a key player for Ireland for this campaign.
“However, Darron has said that although he doesn’t want to let anyone down, he doesn’t feel ready to return to the squad for this fixture after the disappointment of Euro 2012.
“I hope that Darron will take this time to reflect positively on his international career, and return to us in time for the Germany game in October.”
Sunderland midfielder David Meyler has been called up to the squad for the World Cup clash with Kazakhstan on Friday and the friendly against Oman in London the following Tuesday.
8 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seamus60 | Sep 15, 2012, 11:44 AM EDT
The Northern Ireland team might not like Darren travelling with them on his IRISH passport Phultie.
dublinguy | Sep 05, 2012, 10:37 PM EDT
haha' trap is getting just what he deserves' to play pretty much the same 11 players for the final game at the euros after they failed in the first two on all levels' is a total insult to the rest of the squad that traveled to poland' believe me the useless excuse for a manager wont be around much longer.
alphonsus123 | Sep 04, 2012, 12:44 PM EDT
Club versus country! what would you do? or is it more personal! Manager v Player's? what is wrong with Ireland having an irish manager?
TayandCake | Sep 04, 2012, 11:51 AM EDT
cillowen its nothing to do with that, I've had it from the horses mouth the boys don't care for trap. Hes a nutter. Ya want someone like Martin O' Neill in the job.
clevelander | Sep 03, 2012, 08:52 PM EDT
@PhlutiePhan He has and will again play for the Country he was born in IRELAND. It's the coach that is overrated, old and Juvenal. It's time for his 1980's brand of Italian to leave Ireland.
cillowen | Sep 03, 2012, 03:58 PM EDT
This Derry fella regrets he didn't sign up for the north. This explains the dysfunctionality that is Ireland. Wait and see the madness when golf is introduced in 2016. Erin nuttier than a fruitcake.
PhlutiePhan | Sep 03, 2012, 11:46 AM EDT
There has to be a reason that the Italian national squad went on without Trappatoni. He either cannot or won't coach an offense. He goes with a ten man defense and counterattack. I wonder how that worked out at Euro 2012? It didn't. Germany in October will be Waterloo. The team does not have a "big boot". Robbie Boy is a terrific playmaker who is double and triple teamed. They can't score and nil-nil matches against such as Russia and Slovakia followed by another against Croatia are getting a little old. Russia outshot them 24-3 with one weak shot on goal. Corners were 12-1. If it wasn't for Dunnie, it would have been a dozen.
PhlutiePhan | Sep 03, 2012, 11:07 AM EDT
He wouldn't have been treated like that if he had elected to play for the country, he was born in and who introduced him to football and 99.99% of his training up to international level. Justice seen to be done at last. WOOHOO.