World class

CITY native David Forde was happy that his two performances for the Republic of Ireland over the past week had done his prospects of holding onto the goalkeeper’s jersey no harm in the long-term when he returned to London on Wednesday afternoon.

Forde produced a stunning performance for his country in the World Cup qualifier against Germany in Cologne last Friday night, despite conceding three goals, and topped the international break off with a comfortable display against Kazakhstan at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.

He was the Republic’s stand-out Man of the Match against the Germans, producing at least six top class saves in the 3-0 defeat, before being left with little to do after Dmitriy Shomko’s wonder strike which opened the scoring in the 3-1 home win in Dublin.

After waiting so long to establish himself as a first choice international, the 33-year old admitted that he was quietly satisfied with the two performances for his country before returning to training with English Championship side Millwall yesterday.

The Innishannagh Park native has had little time to dwell on his heroics against the Germans, however, as he was already fully focused on Millwall’s London derby against Queens Park Rangers tomorrow (3pm) when he spoke to City Sport from London on Wednesday.

“It was great to finish the World Cup qualifying campaign with a win, it was vitally important with regard to the seedings for the European Championships,” he said. “It was a good performance from the lads, because there are no easy games in world football anymore.

“Friday was always going to be a difficult game, because Germany is probably the best footballing nation in the world at the moment. The Germans had almost half the players in last year’s Champions League final and, in my opinion, they are now right up there with Spain.”

Forde’s heroics in thwarting half a dozen shots on goal on Friday night was one of the most memorable features of the 3-0 defeat and boosted the Galway native’s chances of holding onto a starting berth in the absence of the injured Keiren Westwood (Sunderland).

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.