GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI MUST have thought things couldn’t get any worse after a significant number of his Irish squad were forced to withdraw from Wednesday’s game with Croatia because of injury.
However, two more players have now been added to the list of absentees – Marc Wilson and Jon Walters.
While the type of injury they are suffering from was not specified, RTÉ.ie reports that the Ireland team doctor said that the duo were “not going to be match fit” for the friendly.
They are the latest players to miss out, following the withdrawals of Seamus Coleman, Keith Fahey, James McCarthy, Keith Andrews and Damien Delaney yesterday.
In addition, John O’Shea, Kevin Foley, Aiden McGeady, Kevin Kilbane, Liam Lawrence and Paul McShane had previously been ruled out, with Ciaran Clark the only late call-up announced thus far.
Wilson’s withdrawal, in particular, will be seen as a blow, as it now leaves Ireland with only two available central midfielders: Darron Gibson and Glenn Whelan.
Meanwhile, Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli has expressed concern at the growing list of absentees, telling reporters:
“We will try to win the match. It’s very important for us because in September we have two very important games for the European Championship. I don’t know why all the Irish players get injured.”
The match represents the final opportunity for Trapattoni to assess his options ahead of their vital upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Russia and Slovakia in September.
