Three days after Shane Long's strike beat Germany at Lansdowne Road, Ireland played Poland in Warsaw in their final Group D Euro 2016 qualifier.
Kevin Doyle was an unused substitute for the game against Germany. However, he would not even make to trip to Warsaw.
Speaking to Paul Rowan for The Sunday Times, Doyle told of how Martin O'Neill - just minutes before the squad was due to fly to Poland - told Doyle that his services would not be required for the game. Glenn Whelan and James McClean were just back from suspension and would take their places in the squad. Incredibly, their inclusion meant there was no space on the plane for Doyle.
I just put my head down and got back as quick as possible to America and my family, to training and normality. That is what I signed up for.
Had the Wexford man been told about his exclusion from the squad a day earlier, it would have allowed him return to Colorado Rapids and possibly feature for the MLS side against Montreal Impact.
Doyle only made one appearance during the Euro 2016 qualifiers and that came against Gibraltar in October, 2014. Still, he kept turning up everytime he was called upon by Martin O'Neill. That was despite having to fly from Colorado to Dublin mostly just to sit on the bench.
The 32-year-old moved to Colorado in March of last year. The effect which it was likely to have on his international career was not a consideration for Doyle.
If I had stayed in England and was playing weekly I would probably have a better chance, but I was thinking more of life and happiness and enjoying football in a different country.
I didn’t let whether or not I get picked for Ireland decide my day-to-day career, to be honest with you. If they still pick me, they still pick me. If they don’t, they don’t.
Picture credit: SPORTSFILE
