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Tuesday, May 7, 2002
McCarthy loyalty is put to the test
Colin Young
Coach **** McCarthy will today name the new generation of players who will take the Republic of Ireland back on to the world stage next month.
McCarthy, who finally gets his opportunity to lead his country to a major finals, faced some tough choices before deciding on the 23 who will face Cameroon, Germany and Saudi Arabia in Japan.
The majority of McCarthy's World Cup squad travelled back from Tehran in November after the play-off victory against Iran. As his players celebrated a creditable play-off win in typical Irish style on the flight home, the manager was already pencilling in most of the revellers for a more sobering journey to the Far East on May 17.
At that point he did not expect much use for an eraser but the recent emergence of players like Andy O'Brien, Steven Reid, Clinton Morrison and Colin Healy and the return of Kenny Cunningham and Gary Doherty will test McCarthy's loyalty to his more established players.
Richard Dunne, Mark Kennedy, Lee Carsley, Alan Kelly, Rory Delap and Mark Kinsella have remained integral members of the McCarthy era and would have expected a reserved seat on the plane at the turn of the year. They have all been agonising over McCarthy's phone calls for the last two months.
The one absentee from the difficult trip to Iran has always been Mc Carthy's chief concern, and Roy Keane's recent return from injury will have cheered Jack Charlton's former international captain.
Keane was the driving force behind the Republic's group qualification which saw them finish second to Portugal and knock out Holland after refusing to lose to either of the Euro 2000 semi-finalists.
The Ireland and Manchester United captain was in inspired form in the crucial home win over the Dutch and the equally vital victory and clean sheet in the first leg against Iran at Lansdowne Road.
But Ireland went on to prove in Iran - and in the subsequent friendly home wins over Russia, Denmark and the United States - that they can cope without their leader.
McCarthy, who has extended his contract to the end of the Euro 2004 qualifiers, is further encouraged by the arrival of new talent which will join the exuberance of youth already injected by Robbie Keane, Damien Duff and Ian Harte.
Ireland are much better prepared for the future and for transition than they were when they qualified for the 1994 Finals and when McCarthy took over six years ago.
Whoever misses out is certain to return to the squad which will look to capitalise on their deserved top seeding in the European Championship qualifying draw.
One of those guaranteed a place today is Sunderland midfielder Jason McAteer, a late inclusion in Jack Charlton's squad bound for the United States three World Cups ago. The man who scored the unforgettable winner against Holland is now one of the most senior members of the Irish squad.
He said: 'In '94 I was in Magaluf and it absolutely destroyed my summer. I had a little inkling that I might be going when Bruce Rioch made me stop drinking and keep training while I was out there.
'It was a great occasion. I totally enjoyed it. It was the most perfect scenario in which to play football. This time it means a little bit more for me. In '94 I didn't play in any of the qualifiers, just the warm-up games. I didn't even know if I was going to make the 22, hence my being in Magaluf with Bolton.
'This time I've played in all of the qualifiers and grown with the squad over six years with **** McCarthy and the lads that have been there.
'Because we've missed out, having the heartache, the absolute nightmare of the play-off defeats in Belgium and Turkey, it makes this just a little bit more special.'
PROBABLE SQUAD:
Given (Newcastle), Kiely (Charlton), Alan Kelly (Blackburn Rovers), Finnan (Fulham), Breen (Coventry), Cunningham (Wimbledon), Dunne (Manchester City), Staunton (Aston Villa), O'Brien (Newcastle), Harte (Leeds), Gary Kelly (Leeds), McAteer (Sunderland), Roy Keane (Manchester United), Holland (Ipswich), Kinsella (Charlton), Carsley (Everton), Kilbane (Sunderland), Kennedy (Wolves), Robbie Keane (Leeds), Quinn (Sunderland), Duff (Blackburn Rovers), Morrison (Crystal Palace), Connolly (Wimbledon).
soccernet
McCarthy loyalty is put to the test
Colin Young
Coach **** McCarthy will today name the new generation of players who will take the Republic of Ireland back on to the world stage next month.
McCarthy, who finally gets his opportunity to lead his country to a major finals, faced some tough choices before deciding on the 23 who will face Cameroon, Germany and Saudi Arabia in Japan.
The majority of McCarthy's World Cup squad travelled back from Tehran in November after the play-off victory against Iran. As his players celebrated a creditable play-off win in typical Irish style on the flight home, the manager was already pencilling in most of the revellers for a more sobering journey to the Far East on May 17.
At that point he did not expect much use for an eraser but the recent emergence of players like Andy O'Brien, Steven Reid, Clinton Morrison and Colin Healy and the return of Kenny Cunningham and Gary Doherty will test McCarthy's loyalty to his more established players.
Richard Dunne, Mark Kennedy, Lee Carsley, Alan Kelly, Rory Delap and Mark Kinsella have remained integral members of the McCarthy era and would have expected a reserved seat on the plane at the turn of the year. They have all been agonising over McCarthy's phone calls for the last two months.
The one absentee from the difficult trip to Iran has always been Mc Carthy's chief concern, and Roy Keane's recent return from injury will have cheered Jack Charlton's former international captain.
Keane was the driving force behind the Republic's group qualification which saw them finish second to Portugal and knock out Holland after refusing to lose to either of the Euro 2000 semi-finalists.
The Ireland and Manchester United captain was in inspired form in the crucial home win over the Dutch and the equally vital victory and clean sheet in the first leg against Iran at Lansdowne Road.
But Ireland went on to prove in Iran - and in the subsequent friendly home wins over Russia, Denmark and the United States - that they can cope without their leader.
McCarthy, who has extended his contract to the end of the Euro 2004 qualifiers, is further encouraged by the arrival of new talent which will join the exuberance of youth already injected by Robbie Keane, Damien Duff and Ian Harte.
Ireland are much better prepared for the future and for transition than they were when they qualified for the 1994 Finals and when McCarthy took over six years ago.
Whoever misses out is certain to return to the squad which will look to capitalise on their deserved top seeding in the European Championship qualifying draw.
One of those guaranteed a place today is Sunderland midfielder Jason McAteer, a late inclusion in Jack Charlton's squad bound for the United States three World Cups ago. The man who scored the unforgettable winner against Holland is now one of the most senior members of the Irish squad.
He said: 'In '94 I was in Magaluf and it absolutely destroyed my summer. I had a little inkling that I might be going when Bruce Rioch made me stop drinking and keep training while I was out there.
'It was a great occasion. I totally enjoyed it. It was the most perfect scenario in which to play football. This time it means a little bit more for me. In '94 I didn't play in any of the qualifiers, just the warm-up games. I didn't even know if I was going to make the 22, hence my being in Magaluf with Bolton.
'This time I've played in all of the qualifiers and grown with the squad over six years with **** McCarthy and the lads that have been there.
'Because we've missed out, having the heartache, the absolute nightmare of the play-off defeats in Belgium and Turkey, it makes this just a little bit more special.'
PROBABLE SQUAD:
Given (Newcastle), Kiely (Charlton), Alan Kelly (Blackburn Rovers), Finnan (Fulham), Breen (Coventry), Cunningham (Wimbledon), Dunne (Manchester City), Staunton (Aston Villa), O'Brien (Newcastle), Harte (Leeds), Gary Kelly (Leeds), McAteer (Sunderland), Roy Keane (Manchester United), Holland (Ipswich), Kinsella (Charlton), Carsley (Everton), Kilbane (Sunderland), Kennedy (Wolves), Robbie Keane (Leeds), Quinn (Sunderland), Duff (Blackburn Rovers), Morrison (Crystal Palace), Connolly (Wimbledon).
soccernet
