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| Who will be Ireland's best player during the forthcoming Euro 2008
qualifying campaign? Our key players were the ones who were missing against Holland namely Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Damien Duff and Robbie Keane. Their health, and form, is going to be so important to our chances of finishing in the top two and qualifying for the finals in Switzerland and Austria. Given was the outstanding player during the last campaign and every fan will also be looking for big contributions from Dunne, Duff and Keane because they are the new leaders in Stephen Staunton's squad following the retirements of Roy Keane, Kenny Cunningham and Gary Breen. What every Ireland fan, and Staunton, will be hoping for is that one of the younger players uses the forthcoming campaign to establish themselves as a first choice player and a key member of the team. Staunton is hoping that Steven Reid will do that in the centre of midfield and Aiden McGeady will sparkle on the wing but the player who could be the Ireland's Euro 2008 star is Reading striker Kevin Doyle. Doyle, who scored 19 goals for Reading last season, grabbed his first Premiership striker on Wednesday against Aston Villa and that is a very encouraging sign. If he can find the net at that level he has every chance of doing it in international matches. In his three appearances to date Doyle has shown that he looks comfortable playing up front for Ireland and he was the one player who emerged from the Dutch match with his reputation intact. So keep an eye on Doyle, expect him to form a formidable partnership with Keane and let's hope that between them they get the goals we'll need over the next 14 months. |
