Ireland v Argentina preview
Trapattoni to remain in hospital after illness
Last Updated: August 11, 2010 11:05am
Keane: Set for 100th cap
The Republic of Ireland will play their first game in the Aviva Stadium when they take on Argentina in a friendly.
Following their failure to qualify for the World Cup after losing in a controversial play-off to France, when Thierry Henry handled the ball to set up the winning goal, the Irish will be keen to prove themselves against a side full of big-name players and ranked fifth in the world.
But Argentina are a squad in transition following the departure of Diego Maradona from the helm, with interim manager Sergio Batista currently in charge.
Batista will be staking his claim for a stab at the job on a permanent basis after Maradona left on bad terms, but his task will not be made easy in the new 50,000-seater arena in Dublin.
The Argentina coach admits his team are still smarting from their World Cup exit at the hands of Germany in the quarter-finals, when Joachim Low's men sauntered to a comfortable 4-0 victory.
They still received a rapturous welcome when they returned home after the competition, and will want to repay the faith shown by the fans.
Available
Key players Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain are available to Batista in a squad selected in July by Maradona.
Several players left out of the 23-man World Cup group have been recalled, including forward Ezequiel Lavezzi and midfielders Jesus Datolo and Fernando Gago.
Ireland, meanwhile, were forced to train without coach Giovanni Trapattoni on Tuesday as the Italian tactician was taken to hospital after suffering from nausea.
Assistant Marco Tardelli took control of training and will be in charge against La Albiceleste as Trapattoni will remain in hospital.
It will be a memorable occasion for one man though, as captain Robbie Keane will lead the Republic out for his 100th appearance for his country. He made his debut 12 years ago and has gone on to become a key player.
Ireland have already named their starting line-up, although Kevin Doyle remains a doubt with a leg muscle problem - if Doyle misses out then Cillian Sheridan will step into the breach.
Defender Richard Dunne has been passed fit to play, while Aiden McGeady, Shane Long, Caleb Folan and Marc Wilson have been ruled out because of injury.
Meanwhile, Liam Lawrence has returned to Stoke City for treatment after suffering a groin strain and has been replaced in the side by Keith Fahey.
Republic of Ireland side to play Argentina:
Given (Manchester City); McShane (Hull City), Dunne (Aston Villa), O'Shea (Manchester United), Kilbane (Hull City); Fahey (Birmingham City), Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Green (Derby County), Duff (Fulham); Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Doyle (Wolves)/Sheridan (Celtic).
