SOCCER:The Donegal man tells MARY HANNIGANwhy he finds the attitude of those who failed to turn up in Dublin this week genuinely baffling
HE’S NOT someone who likes to miss international games, but having sat on the bench for the 1997 defeat in Skopje and having missed the draw against the same opponents two years later through injury, Shay Given has, at least, avoided “having a Macedonia” on his Republic of Ireland CV.
Alan Kelly, now the Ireland goalkeeping coach, had the misfortune to be in goal on both occasions, the pair reminiscing this week, none too fondly, about that 1999 draw when a late, late goal from Goran Stavrevski denied the Republic a Euro 2000 qualifying win.
“I think I was in Donegal at the time, watching it with friends,” says Given. “It was heart-breaking for everyone. I was chatting to Alan about it this week and he remembered the ref saying ‘this is the last kick of the game’, the corner coming in. And they scored. But look, that’s the past, it’s about what happens on Saturday. Hopefully we can go there and put the record straight.”
Given was, of course, in danger of missing this game too when he injured his right shoulder during the warm-up for Manchester City’s Europa League game against Aris back in February.
The injury required surgery, prompting fears he would be ruled out until mid-summer at least. Keiren Westwood replaced him for the home qualifier against Macedonia in March, but by mid-April he was back in training and ready to reclaim his place.
“I’ve been great, to be honest. I don’t feel anything. When I did the shoulder I didn’t even think I’d done it, I was even playing golf the next day. I had a scan the day after, just a precautionary one, and they said I’d torn a tendon, so it had to be fixed. It was just one of those disappointing things, but I feel fine now.
If anything the shoulders might be better than they were because of all the rehabilitation I’ve done. They’re probably stronger than they’ve ever been because I’ve really focused on the gym and doing a lot of core work and strength work for my shoulders. I’m probably better than ever.”
He’s fresh too, he says with a rueful smile, having played just 13 competitive games since last August – and nine of them were internationals. His club situation, though, isn’t something he wants to think about this week, although he’ll hardly have escaped the daily speculation about moves to Celtic, Tottenham and Arsenal, among others.
He has two years left on his contract at Manchester City, where England’s Joe Harte seems immovable from the number-one goalkeeping position, and although he indicated at the end of the season he would be happy to see out that contract, the 35-year-old is likely to be at the centre of such transfer speculation for the bulk of the summer.
But for now his focus is on international duty, although the withdrawal of a number of players from the squad has been the chief topic of conversation all week, with Given and several of his team-mates unusually outspoken on the issue.
For a player like Given, criticised in the past by Roy Keane for wanting to play in even international friendlies (“I think players have agendas – certain players come over all the time no matter what. Maybe they want to get 50 or 100 caps and a pat on the back for it. I think Shay’s one of those ones – he wants to get 200 caps”), the attitude of those who failed to turn up in Dublin is genuinely baffling.
“It’s been disappointing, very disappointing,” he says. “You know, it’s a massive game on Saturday. Last week’s games against Northern Ireland and Scotland were great preparation for everyone.
“I don’t know what words you can . . . someone wrote in the papers that (Giovanni) Trapattoni might have to summon three players to play in Macedonia, and I just looked at that and thought ‘if that’s what it’s come to, there is something really badly wrong’. They should be queued up outside the hotel to get in the squad and pestering him when they’re not, instead of the other way around. It’s very disappointing, but this is the way of the world.”
Is it a generational thing?
“I don’t know, but when I was younger I was desperate to come over, meet up and play in the games. I don’t know why that seems to have changed. It shouldn’t have changed. It should be the same buzz. I still look forward to coming over and playing, still, after 15 years, I think. I don’t understand some of the mentalities.”
Will you have a word with any of those players?
“I don’t know, it’s probably the manager’s job, to be honest. A few of us have spoken to the press about it and Robbie (Keane) has said a few words as well. As the senior players, we are disappointed with their attitudes to what is a huge game for us.”
In light of the circumstances, then, and the mood of the players on duty tonight, victory over Macedonia would, it seems, be that bit sweeter.
Given, though, says he was impressed by tonight’s opponents in their 2-1 defeat in Dublin in March, apart, perhaps, from their goalkeeper, Edin Nuredinovski, who had one of those nights, not quite covering himself in glory for Aiden McGeady and Robbie Keane’s goals.
“This is the life of a goalkeeper, you know? He won’t want to look back on the game with much pride, but if you make a mistake as a goalkeeper then nine times out of 10 it’s a goal. He had a disappointing night, but we’ve all had bad nights before. I don’t know if it’s going to be the same ’keeper? Or are they going to change him? I don’t know, there was talk of changing him.”
He’s in the squad again.
“Is he? Well, we’ll see,” he says, diplomatically.
“But Macedonia showed in Dublin that they are a pretty good team. It’s not going to be an easy game. Attacking-wise, especially, they’ve got some very good players.
“I just think if we can get at them a bit, they’ve got some weaknesses. If we can impose our game on them I think we’ve a good chance of getting the right result.
“A win, of course, would be ideal, we’re not going out just to shut up shop and hoping to come away with a point. We want to win the game and there’s no reason we can’t. I’ve a few weeks off after that before we go back pre-season. That would be fantastic for the whole country, to finish on a high. And it’s important to get the right result because you’ll be seething for the whole summer if you don’t. Hopefully we can do that.”
Shay Given Factfile
1992: Joined Celtic as an apprentice after impressing the club the previous summer playing for Lifford Celtic. Never made a first team appearance for the club.
1994: Signed by Kenny Dalglish for Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer.
1996: Made his senior international debut against Russia in a friendly at Lansdowne Road.
1997: Signed again by Dalglish, this time for Newcastle, after a frustrating spell at Blackburn during which, unable to oust Tim Flowers, he made just two appearances. Had loan spells at Swindon and Sunderland during that period. He kept 12 clean sheets in his 17 appearances for Sunderland, helping them to the first division title (1995-96).
1998: Played in the 1998 FA Cup final, which Newcastle lost 2-0 to Arsenal.
2000: Handed in a transfer request at Newcastle after losing his place to Steve Harper, but later withdrew it and regained his place in the side.
2002: Named in the Premier League team of the season after a campaign that saw Newcastle qualify for the Champions League.
2002: Played in the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
2006: Named again in the Premier League team of the season after playing every game for Newcastle, the club rewarding him with a new five-year contract.
2007: Equalled Packie Bonners record of 80 caps in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovakia in Croke Park.
2009: Transferred to Manchester City after 12 years at Newcastle in a four and a half year deal costing City an estimated €8 million.
2009: Won his 100th senior cap in a World Cup qualifying game against Montenegro at Croke Park.
2010: Lost his place in the Manchester City side to England goalkeeper Joe Harte, going on to make just four appearances for the club in the season just ended.
2011: Won his 112th cap for his country in the Carling Nations Cup win over Scotland at Lansdowne Road.
