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Trapattoni extends Ireland stay
DUBLIN (AFP) - Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni on Friday penned a new two-year contract with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) which will take him through to the end of the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
The 70-year-old will attempt to book a trip to next summer's World Cup finals as the Republic lie second in their qualifying group, having won four and drawn four of their games in the campaign so far.
"I am delighted to continue my job with the FAI," said Trapattoni, who contract had been due to expire next year.
"This squad has huge potential. Our results demonstrate what self-belief and structure can achieve and I am really looking forward to continuing the work we have begun."
FAI chief executive John Delaney said: "We are very happy to agree a contract extension with Giovanni Trapattoni.
"The players and everyone on the FAI Board of management have been tremendously impressed by the professionalism, dedication and commitment of Giovanni Trapattoni and his team."
Trapattoni on Friday named a 27-man provisional squad for next month's decisive qualifiers against his native Italy and Montenegro, adding Steven Reid, Paul McShane and Darren O'Dea to the men who did duty in Cyprus earlier this month.
"The final two qualifying matches against Italy and Montenegro in Croke Park next month will be pivotal in our efforts to qualify for South Africa," he said.
Reid has not played for his country since succumbing to yet another knee injury in September last year, but started Blackburn's 1-0 League Cup victory at Nottingham Forest in midweek as he continued his comeback.
McShane is included following his recovery from knee surgery, while O'Dea was used as a substitute in the 1-0 friendly victory over South Africa on September 8.
A point in Dublin would be enough to secure automatic qualification for world champions Italy, while it would also guarantee Ireland the play-off spot if Bulgaria fail to win in Cyprus.
Marcello Lippi's Italians head for Croke Park sitting at the top of Group Eight with 20 points having won two games more than the Irish.
But victory for Trapattoni's men would send them into the last round of games knowing a home win over Montenegro four days later would book their passage to the finals, provided Cyprus denied the Italians victory in Parma that night.
Republic of Ireland squad:
Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Manchester City), Kieran Westwood (Coventry City), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe Utd).
Defenders: John O'Shea (Manchester Utd), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Kevin Kilbane (Hull City), Eddie Nolan (Preston North End), Sean St Ledger (Middlesbrough), Paul McShane (Hull City), Darren O'Dea (Reading).
Midfielders: Aidan McGeady (Celtic), Damien Duff (Fulham), Darron Gibson (Manchester Utd), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Liam Miller (Hibernian), Stephen Hunt (Hull City), Andy Keogh (Wolves), Stephen Reid (Blackburn Rovers), Liam Lawrence (Stoke City).
Forwards: Caleb Folan (Middlesbrough), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Long (Reading), Leon Best (Coventry City).
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