Savouring a century of memories

By Liam Mackey

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

SO THEN, Shay Given is asked, would "shameful" be a word you’d use to describe Ireland’s performance against Italy?

"No," says the Donegal man evenly, after just a small pause. "The only thing I would say is that it was a real kick in the teeth to concede in the last minute. We just need to be more professional. But shameful is not the word I would use."

Criticism, deserved or not, Given suggests, is just something that comes with the territory.

"I don’t know if you ever get the credit – there are always people having a pop. Even if you do everything perfectly, there will still be people digging holes in it. What we have is a small country with a small group of players to pick from and the manager deserves credit for bringing these players in and getting them settled so well in a successful team. He deserves credit but you can’t please everyone."

Barring the shame – in the regretful sense – of a yellow card, tonight at Croke Park should be about nothing but glory for Ireland’s undisputed Number One, as he reaches a century of caps and gets to captain his country in what would be an otherwise run-of-the-mill encounter against Montenegro.

"Before a ball was kicked, we would have been delighted to have been in a situation where we don’t even need a point from the last game," is Given’s view.

"We’ve qualified for the play-offs. We have to take the positives and the belief from what we’ve done in the campaign so far and try and finish the group off with a victory that would set us up for the play-offs. It would be massive if we could get back to another World Cup."

But to do that, Ireland will first have to successfully negotiate those treacherous play-offs – something they have only managed once in five attempts in the past.

"It’s going to be a nerve-wracking time for everyone," says Given, "although after the hostile atmosphere in Tehran (in 2001), anything else should be a stroll in the park. I’ve been in the play-offs twice before, lost one and won one, and I know which feeling I prefer. We know it’s going to be tough but as the manager has said, we don’t fear anybody. We played the world champions on Saturday and we almost won the game.

"I don’t think anyone will relish playing us. We have a settled team, are unbeaten in the group, we have shown we can go to Italy and go to Bulgaria and get results. Whoever gets drawn against Ireland will know we will cause them problems. We know it’s going to be tough because of the seeding situation but we have some very good players and a good mentality."

And, of course, a manager who knows a thing or two about achieving success.

"The biggest thing that the manager has stated is to get a winning mentality," says Given. "It’s a results business. Speak to any manager in the Premier League and its all about results as well. We came into this group, third in the seedings and it was going to be a tough ask to get into the play-offs. I think most people would have taken the play-off position. And that comes from the manager. He has given us the belief and confidence to get results."

Tonight, then, should be another momentous occasion for the Lifford man, assuming, of course, that he doesn’t spoil it all by getting a rush of blood to his head when, say, he has to dive at the feet of a goal-seeking striker.

"You’ve got to use your experience and (not go for it) if you’re not 100% sure in your mind that you’re going to get the ball," Given reflects. "But I’ve been around the block a few times so hopefully I can make the right decision."

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, October 14, 2009