Breen fulfils grandma’s prophecy

By Liam Mackey

IF YOU’RE planning to have a few bob on Sunday’s game, the woman to consult is Mary Lynch in Clare. She’s Gary Breen’s grandmother and, as the man in the beer ad says, she knows things.

“I spoke to her before the game last night, she’s not very well,” the Irish centre-half explained. “And she wished me all the best and she said I think you might score tonight”.

Breen fulfilled the prophesy in some style too, exhibiting what Steve Staunton wryly termed “a striker's instinct”.

“I do it in training all the time … if only,” said the defender turned poacher. “Nah, I just took a gamble. Niall made the space for me, I ran in there, managed to get a good contact.” A crucial goal too, settling nerves after a troubled opening half.

“We got an early goal but we kind of struggled after that. I don’t know why, whether the lads were a bit apprehensive or what, but we didn’t play our normal game.

“It was difficult but the second half was much better. When Damien scored, at 3-0 we knew the job was done but even after that they had a chance. It was a difficult game.

“Even though it was at night, I think that was possibly the hottest game we’ve experienced since we’ve been here.”

Here’s a question you don’t get a chance to ask every day of the week: what does it feel like to score in the World Cup finals? The laid-back, softly spoken Breen comes as close to swooning as you can imagine he ever does.

“Well, it’s been well documented that it’s always been my dream to play for Ireland in a the World Cup finals, as opposed to an FA Cup final or whatever, and to cap it all with a goal, I’m over the moon. I hope this adventure never ends. Or I hope it ends back here in Yokohama in a couple of weeks’ time.

“Confidence is soaring. The only down side, not wanting to sound patronising, is that 22 of us can’t play. There are guys in the squad who are by no means reserve players but it’s just the case that the 11 in possession of the shirts are not willing to give it up.”

Ironically, the man in possession for Ireland indeed, one of the team’s outstanding performers in these finals currently finds himself clubless. However, the ex-Coventry man is leaving all enquiries in the hands of his agent until after this World Cup. Right now, all he wants to concentrate on is the inspiring reality of playing for his country, on the highest stage, in front of an adoring support.

“They’re fantastic. The players who get the opportunity to play are, first and foremost fans themselves, and if we weren’t out on the pitch we’d be in the stand ourselves or at home in the pubs and clubs. It’s a great honour to play for Ireland. You’re playing for Ireland, you’re representing those fans out there - that should be the norm.”

And the norm for Gary Breen at set-pieces is to put his foot or his head in where it counts, according to midfielder Mark Kinsella. “It was a good finish,” said the Charlton man.

Kinsella felt that Ireland’s favourite tags may have worked against the team early on, especially coming after the heady climax of Ibaraki. “Germany was more emotional, coming from behind in the 92nd minute. Today was about doing the job.

“I think the early goal helped them more than it helped us. We just sat back and they caused us a few problems. And our passing wasn’t the best.

“I think that was just nervousness. It was the first time we’ve gone into a game as favourites, and knowing what we needed to get. But a few words from the gaffer at half-time and things improved. They didn’t have too many chances in the second half.”