Robbie Keane will lead a full strength Irish side against Hungary tonight confident of causing an upset or two at the European Championships.
Giovanni Trappattoni’s confidence in his side is so high that he has confirmed that the team that faces Hungary will be the team that opens Group C against Croatia.
The LA Galaxy striker will collect his 116th cap in Budapest but Sunday’s Euro 2012 opener against Croatia is the game on everyone’s mind.
With Spain and Italy to follow in Group C taking something from the opening match of the tournament will give the Irish a fighting chance of qualification with Keane happy to be written off as underdogs.
“Confidence in the squad is very high,” the former Celtic striker admitted. “We haven’t lost in a long time and long may it continue.
“The squad has grown in every game in the last year or so and there is a togetherness in the team that I haven’t seen in a long time.
“The group of players, how well they get on with each other, it’s been brilliant. There have been no little niggles which you usually get in tournaments like this when you’re together for a long time.”
Keane added: “Since the manager took over he has been very confident naming the team the day before games. I have played with other managers who are concerned about doing that an hour and a half before games because they know players know each other from different teams.
“But the manager has always done it like that and it is good as a player to know that you are playing and I’m sure the lads take great confidence from that.”
After announcing his team Trapattoni claimed that they could play with their eyes closed!
Ireland team to face Hungary: Given, O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Ward, Duff, Andrews, Whelan, McGeady, Keane, Doyle.
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