Given - ready to step up.

By Neil Silver, PA Sport, Seoul

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Shay Given not only hopes to save spot-kicks if the Republic of Ireland's game against Spain goes to penalties, he wants to take one as well.

The Newcastle goalkeeper has already been one of the many heroes for Ireland so far in this World Cup, and if Sunday's last-16 clash with Spain in Suwon goes to penalties he will have the chance to go down in Irish folklore.

But Given also quite fancies donning his shooting boots if the tie goes that far, and making the headlines by scoring a penalty as well as saving them.

"Our goalkeeping coach Packie Bonner mentioned to me after the last game that the next step is penalty kicks if it goes that far, and I told him I fancy taking one myself, actually," said Given.

"But he put his grumpy head on and said 'you just worry about saving them'.

"I've never taken a penalty but I would fancy taking one. If you feel confident enough to take one, then why not? I suppose people will think outfield players should take them because they're more used to striking the ball.

"Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert does it and takes the free-kicks as well, but if I tried that Mick McCarthy's hair would be going greyer than it is at the minute."

Ireland are likely to practise penalties before Sunday's game, and Given boasts a decent record on recent statistics.

He said: "I faced three this season and saved two so that was pretty good. The third, I got my hand to it and should have saved it.

"The taker is expected to score so if you save it you're the hero. I think the pressure's more on the taker than the keeper.

"It's the luck of the draw sometimes. You try your best to read his run-up but when you're playing against world-class players, they can throw all kinds of shapes when they come up to the ball.

"Sometimes it's down to luck so hopefully the luck will be with the Irish on the day. We'll probably do a bit of practise on them this week and we have to be ready if it goes that far and see what happens.

"I've only ever been involved in one penalty shoot-out when we lost to Blackburn in the Worthington Cup."

Given has already studied Spain's main penalty taker, Fernando Hierro, and used a bit of psychology when he added: "He looks a bit flustered when he comes to take them actually.

"He doesn't miss any by the statistics so it would be nice to stop one. I've looked at a few already so I'll probably look at a few more in the next few days."

Given can do worse than take a few pointers from Bonner. The former Republic goalkeeper was the hero at this stage of the Italy 1990 tournament when his penalty save from Daniel Timofte in the shoot-out helped secure a dramatic victory over Romania.

Given was a teenager watching his country's World Cup adventure and recalled: "I remember watching him at home in Lifford with my family. My brothers and sisters were all there and we were all glued to the TV.

"Packie went the right way for all of the penalties, I think. He guessed right again for Timofte and made a great save. We were all going mad in the living room. David O'Leary had to finish the job off and there was a lot of pressure on him but he finished it.

"We all went in to Lifford in the car, celebrating with flags out the window. They are great memories that will stay with me forever. Packie was a hero to me and a legend after that. I went to my garden that night pretending I was Packie Bonner with my brothers.

"Packie doesn't talk much about it all but everyone that was involved has great memories of it and me as a supporter as well. You look back on your life and remember where you were when Packie made that save."

Republic boss McCarthy was also involved in that fantastic victory, although he admitted to hiding when it came to taking the spot-kicks.

"On the training ground I'm quite happy to take penalties but when it came to penalties against Romania I was the last in the queue," said McCarthy.

"I was fastening my laces, having a drink, talking to somebody on the sidelines - I was doing anything not to get in that first five."