We’re in it to win it, insists Given

It’s a straightforward question, but the answer from Shay Given reveals a vaulting ambition which, the keeper admits, might have some people questioning his sanity.

Asked what would represent a successful Euro 2012 for Ireland, the Lifford man replies: “A good tournament would mean picking up the trophy... people will read that now and think ‘he’s off his trolley’ because of some of the teams we’re playing against and because we’ll be facing some of the best players in the world. But if you go into a tournament, you’ve got to be in it to win it.

“We want to go there and try to win the tournament and if we can’t do that, then we want to get as far as we can. To say we just want to get out of the group is being negative. We’ve seen in the past what happened with Denmark and Greece. They got one result and then it spurred them on to the next result and then there’s a snowball effect and, before you know it, you can be a long way in the tournament.”

Given, of course, was one of the handful from the current squad who was a major player the last time Ireland performed on a world stage. Did he consider reaching the last 16 in Japan and Korea a success?

“It was frustrating because of the way we went out in a penalty shoot-out. And personally, it was frustrating because I didn’t save a penalty. But, if you look at the game itself as a neutral, Spain were kind of hanging on towards the end. People reading this might think I’ve lost my marbles because of Spain’s standing in the world now but we created some great chances that night and missed a penalty in the game. We probably should have gone through, really. We really could have gone further than we did.”

But Given doesn’t buy into the theory that Ireland’s performances in 2002 were already remarkable enough, considering the chaos in the camp in Saipan preceding the tournament.

“It was a big circus beforehand, of course,” he concedes, “but, as a player and for me personally, it was the first major tournament I’d played in my life, so it wouldn’t really have mattered if elephants were marching through the changing room, it was about enjoying the experience.

“There are real pressures in life. There are people who are fighting for their lives in hospitals — that’s pressure. Representing your country at a major tournament, there’s pressure of course, but not pressure like that facing our club captain (Villa’s Stiliyan Petrov) who is in London at the minute fighting a life-threatening disease. That’s pressure. We’re playing football and what happened at the World Cup is nothing compared to that. So, no, I didn’t worry about it much but looking back it could’ve been a bit better preparation, I suppose (laughs).”

And no worries about an unhappy sequel this time? “I don’t think so, touch wood,” he smiles, tapping the table.

With 121 caps to his name, it’s clear the Euros will have a significant impact on whether Shay Given chooses to retire or stay on for the next World Cup campaign.

“If you go out on a real high it might be the perfect time to call it a day,” he reflects. “I don’t know. I’ll make that decision after the tournament. It depends which side of the coin do you look at — you could be there in 18 months not qualifying and then you’d go out on a low. It’s a tricky one to answer. We’ll see what the summer brings.”

Unlike Niall Quinn and Steve Staunton at the end of the 2002 World Cup, Given certainly won’t be making an announcement immediately after Ireland ’s involvement ends in June.

“I’ll probably take more time. In fairness to Quinny and Stan, they’d probably made that decision before the tournament. I’d love to play again but maybe it’s too soon to say. I think I will sit down with the manager, a few weeks after or something like that, and see what his thoughts would be, see if he felt I could still give something to the team in the future. And if he thinks I can contribute a bit more, if both parties are agreed on that, then maybe we’ll kick on. But it’s not about dragging the life out of it and hanging on until people are saying ‘you shouldn’t be playing anymore’. I want to be playing because I’m good enough, not for any other reason.”

Meantime, despite the turmoil at Villa Park this season, Given is much happier going into the Euros now than if the tournament had been taking place one year ago.

“I have enjoyed the season, very much so. I know people will think I’m talking rubbish but I have. The year before was a real low point because I didn’t play any football.

“Anyone who knows me, knows that from the moment I left Lifford all those years ago, it was all about playing football. And when that’s taken away from you, when you’re training every day for nothing at the end of the week, it’s tough. So I’ve really enjoyed the buzz of playing in the Premier League and, going into this major tournament, I feel on top of my game, sharp and focused.

“I’m really feeling good about the summer.”