Danny Murphy

France there for the taking

Thu Nov 12 12:07PM

My club team-mates who represent the Republic of Ireland Stephen Kelly and Damien Duff are both very excited about facing France in their World Cup play-off in Dublin.

The French have had a very average campaign by their high standards and they are vulnerable.

Feedback on Giovanni Trapattoni has been very positive and the Irish are so close now that they won't want to let the opportunity slip away.

It would be great for the World Cup to have the presence of the Republic of Ireland fans there to create an incredible atmosphere surrounding their fixtures.

I will definitely be rooting for them to make it, having a number of colleagues and close friends in the squad - and I really hope we will see them in South Africa next summer.

I think England playing in Doha is a good thing for the squad. It will be a new experience in a different climate and atmosphere to what the boys are used to. It will be an education and gives a few new faces the opportunity to impress after being drafted into the squad.

There is of course a financial incentive to go out there and play, but the match creates an opportunity to expose the game to new markets, which is fantastic for the sport.

It was a bit of a surprise to see Stephen Warnock included in Fabio Capello's squad, but it is a much-deserved call-up. He is a great player and a very strong defender, who has really earned the opportunity.

Darren Bent has been fantastic all season and has once more proven himself as an outright goalscorer since joining Sunderland. His work rate is phenomenal and I hope he can stake a claim for a place in the World Cup squad.

Also, I believe Tom Huddlestone could be one of the big surprises moving forward with England. He has two wonderful feet, is a great passer of the ball and is much fitter than people give him credit for. He is an integral part of the current Tottenham line-up.

As I have said before, I think Michael Owen should definitely be included in the squad as he is a proven goalscorer in international football, especially in the big games for England. He is being given little opportunity prior to the World Cup, however, and his time to impress is running out.

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Sadly Owen's inclusion in the World Cup squad will now only come at the expense of one of the other "prefered" forwards getting injured, and even then it's doubtful if he will get the nod over players such as Crouch, Agbonglahor or Welbeck.
Owen should have left Newcastle much sooner to find his fitness and level at a more consistent club - that he is at Manchester now comes almost too late to realistically save his place on the plane, unless he is so determined to prove everyone wrong (and does!) and Ferguson gives him the chance to do that ...
From t4tigger1977 on Thu Nov 12 12:24PM
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To be very honest, i think there is a huge chance for Ireland to make it through...and take it from a frenchman...
I think the french squad has lost interest, i think their top players are more worried about their respective places in their clubs... I think they lost their passion except for a few (mostly EPL players btw). I only see Sagna, Evra, Diaby, and a couple more with a real desire... the rest dont seem to find the whole thing worthwhile.
Their coach has been criticized for years now as you'd expect from someone who never ran a club to the top european competitions... I'd take Trapatoni over Domenech regardless of who makes the 11.
My money's definitely on Rep.of Ireland on this one. They will show heart (that's for sure), they will make the game, they should score first and hold their score and they should do well in the World Cup should they get there.
It would take a massive change of behaviour from Les Bleus for them to change that...
From jonton26 on Thu Nov 12 12:36PM
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GO FRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANCE !
From tod.lemaire on Thu Nov 12 01:17PM
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we gonna turn the irish inside out.they could well lose the first tie if we turn on the style.
From diztanguy on Thu Nov 12 01:27PM
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The reason why people are still longing for the inclusion of Owen is because the other strikers are just not good enough. There must be at least 500 English strikers playing professionally in England and while EPL claims to be the best league in the world, the national team fails to produce another world-class striker behind Rooney. No wonder everywhere else in the world keeps saying the English team is overrated. Among all the European powerhouses, who doesn't have at least 3 very good strikers? Heck, were Raul, Del Piero and Trezeguet English, they would be called up immediately.
From rexy_27 on Thu Nov 12 01:28PM
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I'm half-Irish and hope the French win comfortably. Fed up with hearing my Trotter relo's slagging off Britain, despite most happily taking the English pound until the recent unsustainable booms. Dont buy into the friendly Irish myth either; my family are as lovely as anyone to us, but you holiday in Eire as an Englishman and expect to be given the coldest of shoulders.
From lawrencemcneela on Thu Nov 12 01:32PM
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I think that Irish people are a bit TOO much confident...I think France is going to show that it's still the best team in the world...it's mostly when u dont see them coming that they r the strongest!Allez les bleus!!!
From sangosam on Thu Nov 12 01:33PM
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As if the whole country of France and the many colonies won't make more noise than Ireland. Stupid article. You think having a Ireland presence would be better for the World Cup than a French presence? It's like you want Stoke City rather than Arsenal in the Premiere League..... It's also like if you want to have a Stephen Ireland at the World Cup more than a Karim Benzema, Thiery Heny, or Frank Ribery. If only Murphy could play in Arsenal and then he could write and article more worthwhile by supporting his French team mates. Please USE you brains when you next write and think about what really would be good for a World Cup!!!!
From lawmichelle on Thu Nov 12 01:34PM
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Irish people are a bit too much confident. Ok, the French team sometimes have a little of difficulty in playing well together and the selector is not the best that they can have but this team have a huge potential which has begin newly showing itself.
When the Frenchmen do not answer provocations too much, it points out that they are very determined...
I think that you will have a nice surprise on Saturday.
From patricech on Thu Nov 12 01:59PM
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Ireland have been totally wrote off to qualify against france, why? Names thats why! Ribery, Benzema, etc, but the Irish have one thing that teams like france and england dont have, - heart and passion, Dont forget that we knocked Holland out for 2002 Wolrd cup through Jason mcAteer! (Who's he?????)
I tip ireland for a 1-0 win in dublin and 0-0 in france.
france, portugal getting seeded was @#$% anyway, we draw with the world champs and NOT LOSE 1 GAME in qualifying and then dont get seeded- like i said, @#$%!!!!!
danny Murphy has a good point- Irish people are a lot more fun than the french, and we tip!!!! C"Mon The Irish!!
From paddlin_del on Thu Nov 12 02:07PM
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hello from france ))
we hate domenech but we still want to go in south africa
hope we'll have 2 very pleasant games ... with goals !!!
From bitogigue on Thu Nov 12 02:10PM
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lawmichelle stephen ireland has not played for ireland in this qualifing campaign and he will not play in the world cup finals. also if the french are such good supporters why did they have to send back 1,000 tickets of their allocation to the FAI
From wilmooney on Thu Nov 12 02:15PM
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everybody want to see France in WC and it's impossible to imagine they won't go.
We are very surprised to see that Ireland is so confident.. let's have a look to the latest matches of the French team and you will understand what will happen to Ireland if they play the same even if it's a courageous team. Courage is not sufficient face talent.
Ireland 0-1 France In Dublin
France 3-1 Ireland In Paris
From riedis75 on Thu Nov 12 02:17PM
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Ive noticed a lot of posts on here saying Irish are 'too confident' and such. All ill say is this, France down the years has consistently produced some of the beest players in the world so, naturally, the fans have gotten used to victory. Whereas Ireland, being a small nation, hasnt. For us, making the world cup would be absolutely everything. Its not treated as a given, its a rarity. You have to understand that this is mostly excitement, alot of people dont realisticically expect us to go through in Ireland but they will support them as best as possible anyway. Ive nothing but respect for the French, but i think your players wont know what hit them come kick-off. Éireann go Brách!!
From simpsongerard on Thu Nov 12 02:17PM
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With due respect to all the other French players who really try, France was really just Zidane,he was the difference that made an average team great..His aging and then retirement has mirrored Les Bleus's fortunes..the chances that they will NOT be at next year's World Cup Finals are, therefore, very good!!!!!!!!
From ktgonese on Thu Nov 12 02:38PM
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@ lawrencemcneela
I thought this was about football, not your bigot views on people from different countries other then your own.
Back to the football. I can't see ireland doing this tbh. if france want they can step it up a level where we can't. We need stephen Ireland, Stephen Reed and Andy Reed back in the squad 'cos our center midfield is rubbish!
From mmidgers on Thu Nov 12 03:09PM
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Poor Michelle so. We dont all hate England. Personally I shout for them. I like to see our neighbours progress as Id hope theyd cheer us on.
From soreilly60 on Thu Nov 12 03:09PM
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All French football lovers really find it hard to accept that after all those disasters, our National team is still being coached by Domenech. We are all very much tempted to see him ridiculized, eliminated and fired. The time will come. But although I have a huge respect for Ireland, their heart and their fantastic fans, I would be hugely surprised and disappointed that players like Gourcuff, Lassana Diara, Henry, Evra or Anelka would not participate to the SA world cup. There is no doubt that compared to the 1998/2000 generation, this team lacks mental strenght and intelligence. But it is still a group of super players with one really to be discoved by the football world which is Johann Gourcuff. It is going to be a hugely difficult game. To my point of view, the French must win it in Dublin in order to avoid a really tough game in Paris. So yes, football is about heart, crowd, and team spirit. But it is also mainly about talent. And it has to be acknowledge that talent will be on the French side. So we'd rather wait a bit for getting our revenge over "Raymond"...
From frankparisfr on Thu Nov 12 03:13PM
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I dont think we can pull it off in this campaign. France have quality players, we dont have that much quality, just heart and determination. I fear French quality will win out.
From soreilly60 on Thu Nov 12 03:16PM
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Irish people are a bit too much confident. Ok, the French team sometimes have a little of difficulty in playing well together and the selector is not the best that they can have but this team have a huge potential which has begin newly showing itself.
When the Frenchmen do not answer provocations too much, it points out that they are very determined...
I think that you will have a nice surprise on Saturday.
From patricech on Thu Nov 12 04:08PM
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i reckon ireland could pull it off, what murphy didnt mention was that the frenchmen are currently lost and without form and i think that ireland have the resiliency to go through. i'll be supporting them
From shaunf721 on Thu Nov 12 04:11PM
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Ireland couldn't even hold on for 5 minutes against Italy. We never keep a lead. We need to score the first goal in the game in the last minute of injury time to actually hold on to a lead. Useless.
From suggzz_51 on Thu Nov 12 04:14PM
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COME IRELAND WE ARE GOING TO STUFF THE FRANCE
From anthonytaylor26 on Thu Nov 12 05:14PM
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FORZA EIRE, Forza Trapattoni and Forza Tardelli. I want IRELAND to win, it would be fantastic to have the Irish in South Africa next year. It's absolutely false that the Irish are over confident. Giovanni Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli will make sure that the squad is mentally prepared. Trapattoni is one of the greatest coach in the world today, he's a pragmatic man and he's also a man with great football experience, he is assisted by Marco Tardelli the 1982 World Cup Champion who is also a great motivator and a fine coach in his own right with experience of managing the U-21 Italian European Champion and an Inter Milan manager.Eire France 2- 1 that will be the final score.
From maremma96 on Thu Nov 12 05:26PM
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Maremma96 is 100% correct Ireland will KO France, thus, I say, Forza Irlanda all the best from Danteleone!!
From maremma96 on Thu Nov 12 05:34PM
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lawnmichelle, i think you are very correct, i may add for those who question the seeding of france rather than irlande; france are the current runner-up for the 2006 world cup, that may give them a slight advantage when it comes to being seeded, and quiet wright !
From baghriche on Thu Nov 12 06:32PM
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maramma96, if trapatoni and tardelli are so good, why are they not coching italy ? or brazil, argentina, holland etc , i remember when the irish FA were recruting, giovanni trapatoni was dying to get the job as he could not get anything else, so please explain.
From baghriche on Thu Nov 12 06:46PM
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wow, I'm baffled by the ignorance shown by some comments. What does Platini has to do with these upcoming games, he is head of the UEFA not the FIFA. The FIFA's headquarters is in Switzerland, not in France. I do recognize the legitimate complaint about the last minute seeding but how is that particularly France's fault??
It also seems fashionable to critize France's form in retrospection to a time where they were reconstructing and to completely ignore their current form. Do not be overconfident or you will fall from unforgiving heights, respect your adversary as they are respecting you...(not a single quip from the French side, an example that some should endeavor to emulate).
From traor1 on Thu Nov 12 06:49PM
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UP THE BOYS IN GREEN AND NO ITS NOT YEEEEEE FROGS HAHAHAHA
From wmccarthy80 on Fri Nov 13 01:11AM
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murphy ur a legend in all liverpool terms and ireland have no need to fear the frogs they only bet us one nothing over 2 legs the last time we can and are well capable of a win so come on ireland
From chrisdoyle1312 on Fri Nov 13 03:46AM
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