Here's a very dodgy Google translation of the article on the 'very Catholic lefty'. Check out the first line.
The red-handed, big-headed, pink-skinned and boyish look that is trained with Ireland does not want to comment. What has been said and done in recent months has earned him death threats. But he insisted. He appealed to the faith. And of his convictions, is now a luxury spa hotel in Sopot, Baltic sea front, waiting for his moment. If you see your coach firm, will play tomorrow against Spain its first official match. His name is James McClean.
Last summer, McClean played part time in the Derry City. It was almost an amateur. He had been summoned to the lower echelons of the Northern Ireland team, led by a Catholic, Michael O'Neill, but she said she felt suffocated in a changing multicultural mix of Protestants and Catholics, playing for a hobby unionist areas planted . Raised in the bosom of the majority Catholic community in Londonderry, surrounded by fellow needed to feel comfortable. That said in his Twitter account, in which hung a picture of a famous mural Bogside Republican district: Welcome to free Derry (Derry Welcome to free).
Sunderland signed him to their reservations team a year ago and remained more or less in obscurity until Christmas. Technical director Martin O'Neill, I discovered during a meeting with Manchester United reserves. "Suddenly this guy came running in the middle of hungry storm of snow," he recalled, "courageous and strong, every time he got the ball, faced your bookmarks as the old ends."
He likes to run and tackle. You feel safe because your body can collide " Steve McManaman, exfutbolista says.
At 22 years had passed the usual period of maturity, the sieve that separates professionals from amateurs. But in a few weeks McClean became the surprise of the Premier League. Dribbled, focused, was good in the air and reached the top like a truck: six goals in 25 games. Steve McManaman, former player of Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid, admired him immediately: "It's a very strong attacking midfielder and powerful. He has done a very good season. He likes to run and tackle. You feel safe because your body can collide. In Ireland you can come in handy a player because he is brave and able to attend well to the front from the side. And even to get to the area and score goals. His performance in the Premier has been a surprise to everyone. Very few knew him. "
As a Catholic, do not sit at home in the Northern Ireland team " James McCleann was quick to express his desire to play for the Republic of Ireland. He did religious grounds. "As a Catholic, do not sit at home in the Northern Ireland team," he said, "lying if I said any Catholic who is comfortable seeing those flags and listening to these songs." In response, he received death threats via social networks, presumably Loyalist groups.
"The threats should be taken seriously because the political problems in Ireland are real," he reflects McManaman, "has been very brave to play for Ireland. Trapattoni will be very useful in a very difficult time because they are forced to beat Spain or Italy. "
Against Croatia (1-3), the performance of veterans like Keane and McGeady was disappointing. But Trapattoni prefers to wait: "My duty is to protect the players. Young people must be given an opportunity, but not everyone. Correct, not when we need them to save us ... To McClean would be too heavy to be started against Spain. Did McGeady and Duff can not face it without fear? Do not play in the Premier League for so long? ".
In the islands there are names linked to Catholicism and Protestant roots surnames. McClean is often associated with the Protestant McLean, of Scottish origin. David Adams, the Irish Times, would not exclude McClean has suffered some form of abuse and need to demonstrate in their community, despite its name, is a nationalist. A Catholic pure able to bathe in the holy water Trapattoni, singular ritual, throws on the field before every game.
