Country pride lifts Shay’s City pain

WHEN the advance word came through that Shay Given didn’t want to talk about Manchester City, I was reminded of comedian Ardal O’Hanlon’s dream of interviewing Neil Armstrong on a chat show – and never once mentioning the moon.

You could understand Given’s reluctance to bring up the club that dare not speak its name, but the chance of 20 minutes in his company elapsing without mention of his predicament at Eastlands was always going to be remote.

However, when the moment did come, it was Given himself who brought the subject up, even if it was in response to a question about Roy Keane appearing to have yet another little pop, as they like to say in football, at Ireland’s 106-cap goalkeeper.

Speaking last week about Ipswich’s Irish keeper Brian Murphy, Keane remarked: “I can’t believe that Murph isn’t in the Irish squad. Certain players seem to get picked all the time and others, I’m left scratching my head about.” And, although the former Bohemians man is not currently first-choice between the sticks at Portman Road, Keane observed: “I don’t think Shay Given’s playing regularly, I don’t think Robbie Keane’s playing regularly. A lot of the Irish boys aren’t playing for their clubs regularly but they’ll be playing for Ireland next week.”

The ironic timing of the suggestion that he gets to play too many games – in particular friendlies – for Ireland was not lost on the Donegal man.

“Well, at the minute I’m not playing many games for anybody so it’s a privilege to play,” he said, with a rueful smile. “Years gone by, people have got hammered for not turning up for friendlies and only turning up for qualifiers. Now you get hammered for turning up. It’s a no-win situation if you ask me. I’ve said from day one that playing for your country is a special moment and that should never change.”

For Given, the honour associated with pulling on his country’s shirt never loses its lustre.

“I watched the Ryder Cup and I saw the pride and honour in representing Europe and it was fantastic for them getting across the line. I was cheering every putt. You speak to the rugby guys and, as far as I’m aware, they’re delighted to play for their country. I don’t think that should change. Other players have a different philosophy and don’t want to play for their country. That’s how they look at it; it’s not the way I look at it.”

However, he accepts that, with advancing age, priorities could change. “You look at Robbie and Duffer and they’re desperate to play for their country, whether it’s a friendly or a competitive game. Which is a great thing. But obviously there are a lot of demands and a lot of games. When players get into their 30s, you’ve got to ask that question. At the minute there is a 10-day break and players like Paul Scholes will probably have a week off and a week to get knocks and bruises out of him and get ready for the next club game.

“There is an argument for that too. There may come a time for myself when I might have to focus on my club game because I’m getting on in years and that’s a decision you have to make as well.

“But, at the minute I feel fine and” – another thin smile – “obviously I’m well rested”.

Which brings us back to his Man City internal exile, an experience Given admits he finds difficult.

“Obviously, these games (against Russia and Slovakia) have been a big focus for me and it gets me through training. I know how important these games are, so I’ve been working hard in training. And I have had to work at it because you do have bad days. It’s tough. But this is the situation I’m in and I just have to get the head down and get on with it.

“I suppose you can think too much, not that I’m a great thinker. You can over-analyse it, but these games have been a big focus for me over the last few weeks, to be honest, and I’m really looking forward to them. I don’t want to talk too much about Man City, I’m really focused on these games coming up and working hard in training for these games. There are a couple of players that haven’t been playing. But once you pull on that jersey and cross the white line, all you can do in any sport is do your best and that’s what we’ll do on Friday.”

The visit of Russia inevitably prompted a little reverie about his debut for Ireland against the same opposition in Dublin back in 1996 on a night which still holds a prized place in his memory even if he’d rather forget the scoreline – a 0-2 win to the Russians. Lansdowne Road is gone now but Shay Given is still between the posts – and hoping for an even greater night to remember at the Aviva Stadium on Friday.

“Playing Russia in Dublin was always going to be one of the biggest games in the group,” he said. “It’s a night game, under lights, and hopefully the fans can create a fantastic atmosphere. I know it’s a cliché but the supporters can be our 12th man and have the place rocking on Friday night. Then, hopefully, the Russians will know they’re coming into a bit of a cauldron. And if we can produce on the pitch, it bodes well for a fantastic night.”