Trap tells McCarthy to step up

Yankee Stadium may not be a mecca of football but Giovanni Trapattoni believes it’s the perfect arena for James McCarthy to prove himself against the world’s best.

The Republic of Ireland squad arrived in New York on Saturday ahead of the friendly against Spain and their first public engagement yesterday was a trip to the Hurricane Sandy-impacted Irish-American community of Breezy Point in Queens.

The players spent an hour running a soccer clinic for local kids while also milling with members of the community before departing for an evening training session in Montclair University in New Jersey, the same venue used by the New York Red Bulls.