Aston Villa 1 Everton 1:WHEN Stephen Ireland suddenly left the Republic of Ireland squad in September 2007 before a European Championship qualifying match against the Czech Republic in Prague, it set in motion a most bizarre chain of events. "You couldn't make it up" hardly did the episode justice.
But Ireland, the player, did make it up. When he claimed that the reason for his hasty departure was because of the death of his maternal grandmother, it was swiftly proved to be false. And when he backtracked and said it was his paternal grandmother who had passed away, that was exposed as a lie, too.
Both were very much alive and kicking. They had most definitely not gone to meet their maker. But if much of the mystery still remains unexplained to this day, what is fact is the enigmatic Ireland has not played for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side since.
And while the Italian long ago ran out of olive branches to extend, Ireland retains a sliver of hope of getting the call for next summer’s European Championships.
“I’ve not been approached,” he said. “It’s not really a question I have to answer because it’s not a question that has come to me. I’ll see when it comes to me. It’s not something I think about. It’s not frustrating, no. I’ve not been playing for so long [with Ireland] that I’m not missing it. I’m just going to concentrate on my club football.”
Concentrating pretty well, too, against an Everton side that had Republic of Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson making his debut in opposition, while Robbie Keane made a brief appearance off the bench at the end .
Two touches from Ireland helped to set up a scrappy opening goal, dispatched by Darren Bent. But Everton levelled when the excellent Landon Donovan released Victor Anichebe, a substitute, to coolly beat Given.
A former team-mate at Manchester City and at international level, Given has noticed the change in Ireland this season.
“Stephen’s confidence has taken a lift,” said Given. “He wants to be on the ball more and is more bubbly around the place. Sure, he likes his cars and his tattoos, all that kind of stuff. He is a character, yeah.”
Alex McLeish, the Villa manager, has noticed too. “We have worked hard with Stephen. I’ve been patient with him, and he’s now producing,” McLeish said.
Guardian service
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