Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy has named a massive 39-man preliminary squad for the friendly game with Croatia at Lansdowne Road on August 15. Included are five players who have yet to win their first cap, Hibernian goalkeeper Nicky Colgan, Millwall midfielder Stephen Reid, Manchester United reserve team defender John O'Shea, Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison and Bohemians striker Glenn Crowe, the only Irish-based player in the panel.
There is a welcome back for Sporting Lisbon defender Phil Babb after a year's absence following his arrest with Mark Kennedy after a street incident in Dublin prior to the Republic's 2-2 draw with Holland in Amsterdam last year.
"This squad will be reduced to 22-players next week," said McCarthy. "I'm aware that European club commitments and injuries could mean several drop-outs from the original squad. After our last World Cup game with Estonia in Tallinn back in June, I felt it was important that fringe players know that they're still very much involved."
"It's important that players see their name in print and that they're still very much in the shake-up for places in the national team. All the places in the squad are up for grabs. We start with a clean slate and this will be important preparation for our vital World Cup qualifier against Holland in Dublin on September 1," McCarthy added.
The Republic currently top Group Two with 18 points from eight games with a record of five wins and three draws. Holland are dangerously poised just three points behind but the Irish should at least make the November play-offs with a draw against the Dutch.
Portugal, with three matches to play, remain favourites to qualify automatically for the finals in South Korea and Japan next summer with three matches remaining. They have straightforward fixtures away to Andorra and Cyprus and finish with a home game against Estonia.
Republic of Ireland Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alan Kelly (Blackburn Rovers); Shay Given (Newcastle United); Dean Kiely (Charlton Athletic); Nick Colgan (Hibernian)
Defenders: Gary Kelly (Leeds United); Stephen Staunton (Aston Villa); Ian Harte (Leeds United); Gary Breen (Coventry City); Richard Dunne (Manchester City); Kenny Cunningham (Wimbledon); Gary Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur); Stephen Carr (Tottenham Hotspur); Alan Maybury (Leeds United); Andy O'Brien (Newcastle United); John O'Shea (Manchester United); Barry Quinn (Coventry City); Phil Babb (Sporting Lisbon).
Midfielders: Roy Keane (Manchester United); Mark Kinsella (Charlton Athletic); Lee Carsley (Coventry City); Jason McAteer (Blackburn Rovers); Matt Holland (Ipswich Town); Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland); Steve Finnan (Fulham); Rory Delap (Southampton); Mark Kennedy (Wolverhampton Wanderers); Keith O'Neill (Middlesbrough); Stephen Reid (Millwall); Stephen McPhail (Leeds United); Graham Kavanagh (Cardiff City); Alan Mahon (Blackburn Rovers)
Forwards: Damien Duff (Blackburn Rovers); Gareth Farrelly (Bolton Wanderers); Niall Quinn (Sunderland); Robbie Keane (Leeds United); David Connolly (Wimbledon); Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace); Dominic Foley (Watford); Glen Crowe (Bohemians).
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
