Given green light for final warm-up

Shay Given last night declared himself fully fit and ready to go in Budapest tonight as Ireland wrap up their pre-tournament friendlies with a game in which a clean bill of health would trump a clean sheet.

Given build-up has been restricted by a knee injury that kept him sidelined in Malahide and on restricted duties in Montecatini while blisters on each of his big toes forced him take Saturday off as a precaution. He returned to training last night and reported to the ground’s press centre shortly afterwards, beads of sweat popping from his brow, to give the latest encouraging update.

“Once you cross the white line and you’re playing an international representing your country, you’re very much focused on what you need to do,” he said. “If you go in half-hearted to a tackle or whatever, that’s when you can come out worse. You have to stay focused.”