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..:: Deficiente-Forum - Internacional ::.. => English => Noticias Internacionais => Sport => Tópico iniciado por: RoterTeufel em 30/03/2012, 16:22
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STEPHEN IRELAND WOULD LOVE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND CALL-UP
STEPHEN IRELAND is ready to end his Republic of Ireland exile – but not before Euro 2012.
Aston Villa’s £8m midfielder has been out in the cold since withdrawing from the squad in controversial circumstances in 2007.
But now he’s given Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni the nod to get in touch to see if something can be sorted.
The 25-year-old would welcome a call from Trapattoni, but doesn’t want to gatecrash the Republic’s Euro party.
He has been in limbo since his contentious departure from the squad prior to a 1-0 defeat to the Czech Republic, which effectively ended hopes of making Euro 2008.
Ireland jetted home to be with his girlfriend, who had suffered a miscarriage, but covered it up by saying his grandmother had died.
The ex-Manchester City star later admitted he had lied, apologised for making a “massive mistake” and hasn’t played for his country since.
But for the first time he’s indicated that the time may be right and admitted he’s under pressure from his missus and kids to make a fresh start.
Ireland said the matter was out of his hands but indicated that a call from the FAI might get things rolling.
He said: “Until the question comes from the FAI, or some kind of contact comes from them, I can’t really think about it.
“Obviously I’ve matured as a person since then. Things are much more settled and I’m at a club where I am playing. Now the kids are putting me under pressure to play for Ireland.
“My seven-year-old is playing football and he’s really good. He would like to see me playing for Ireland.
“Obviously it all could have been dealt with in a better way at the time.
“But even if it had been, I’d still have needed that big gap at some stage anyway.
“I just think it was a very difficult time. Jessica was heavily pregnant as well as having two children to look after.”
In fact, Ireland’s partner set the ball rolling with a tweet, indicating he might be prepared to patch things up.
He added: “She wants me to go back and wants what’s best for my career.
“But I really don’t know the answer. It came across as if it was a burden to me to play for my country – but that’s not the case.”