Trapattoni And Ireland Call For Superman

Cometh the World Cup D-Day hour cometh the quicksilver MCFC defence unlocker with the superhero undercrackers? The Republic of Ireland manager hopes so...

Anyone watching Ireland's efforts against Italy at Croke Park the other week will know their side is crying out for a playmaker to link up their attack and defence. The type of player capable of helping secure Eire's passage to the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa by negotiating the French aristocrats next month is desperately needed.

Stephen 'Superman' Ireland certainly fits the bill but to this moment remains in self imposed international exile.

Trapattoni clearly still hopes that City's number seven will have a change of heart:

'If a player does not want to play for his country, there is nothing I can do. I believe he will regret this decision when he is older because there is a chance he could have helped his country to make the World Cup finals.

'I have had conversations with him, but he says he is happy not to play. My door is always open to him and some of the best champions of the past have enjoyed successful comebacks. He can be like them if he wishes.'

This correspondent would love to see Ireland make that comeback. His sublime talents would certainly grace the Stade de France and beyond that, the footballers holy grail of representing your country in a World Cup tournament.

Give it a crack, Stevie.

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