Could Ireland Ever Win The World Cup? It's The Stuff Of Dreams...

Shay sets his sights on game's biggest prize

- Sean Murphy

IRELAND soccer legend Shay Given said it is his "dream" for the Boys in Green to win a World Cup and is already thinking of qualification for 2026.

The retired goalkeeper was Ireland's No1 at the 2002 finals, won 134 international caps and has already had a successful coaching spell.

He will offer expert analysis as RTE kicks off its coverage from Qatar this Sunday and revealed punditry, not coaching, could be his future.

Shay, 46, left Derby as goalkeeping coach 18 months ago and yesterday admitted his phone is not "ringing off the hook" with offers since.

But he is "enjoying punditry for now" and is delighted to be spending quality family time with his fiancee and their two children.

He also revealed his ongoing heartache for 10 victims of an explosion in Donegal and claimed Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, has played his last game for Manchester United.

Ireland did not qualify for this year's tournament, but according to squad value data compiled for Boyle Sports, we would be 26th best out of the 32 countries who did make it to Qatar.