Ireland changes Irish tune — again

NOBODY, least of all — you suspect — Giovanni Trapattoni, will be holding their breath but just a few days after seeming to express utter indifference bordering on contempt for the national team, Stephen Ireland now says that he hasn’t ruled out playing for his country again.

Obviously, his comments have to be taken in the context of a radio interview designed to fight the fires ignited by his inflammatory remarks to a French magazine earlier in the week but, nevertheless, it means the will-he-won’t-he saga is up and running again.

Speaking on Newstalk, Ireland expressed regret at the bizarre manner in which he ended his Irish career in 2007 and hinted that a resumption was not now out of the question.