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After
some sterling performances in a
tough qualifying group, a place at
the 2002 World Cup is still within
the realms of possibility for Mick
McCarthy and his Republic of
Ireland team. McCarthy is
certainly growing into his role as
an international manager.
Having seemingly settled on a
tight, determined starting XI,
however, the loss of key players
to his squad would seriously
threaten Irish hopes of going to
Japan and South Korea next year.
The Republic are well placed to
push for at least a play-off
position. The 4-0 victory against
minnows Cyprus and and surely
another against Andorra will see
another six points bagged. Victory
over Estonia in June would
strengthen their position, but the
real tests come when Portugal and
Holland visit Dublin, in June and
September respectively.
McCarthy’s team’s current
strong position has been built
upon excellent draws in Amsterdam
and Lisbon. In Amsterdam, Ireland
outplayed and out-thought a
depleted Dutch side struggling
with a Euro 2000 hangover for much
of the game. Leading 2-1 heading
into the last quarter, Kevin
Kilbane of Sunderland squandered a
wonderful opportunity to add a
third, a miss that may come back
to haunt the Irish come September
2001. A month later, the Irish
went to Lisbon and stole a point
against the impressive Portuguese,
when Matt Holland struck from
distance against the run of play.
This time the Irish were more
fortunate but were rewarded for
their perseverance and
industry.
Both games and the subsequent
stroll against Estonia in Dublin
point to McCarthy having learnt
harsh lessons in his last two
campaigns as Irish manager.
Significantly, the club
atmosphere, which was central to
the success of Jack Charlton’s
era, is being recreated. The
Republic has fielded almost the
same side for each group game so
far. This increased understanding
between the players is paying
dividends. However, such
continuity of selection is a
rarity in international football
and is unlikely to last.
Equally important in the side’s
success has been McCarthy’s
recognition of the benefits of
playing as many of the players as
possible in the positions that
they are most comfortable with and
then settling on a system. The
Irish team, unlike recent England
sides, has balance allied with a
strong and definable core. While
it is not the finished article,
the team has started playing and
working as a unit from back to
front. McCarthy is blessed with
having the choice of three
international class keepers in
Kelly, Given, and Kiely. Blackburn’s
strangely out of favour keeper
Kelly is probably still first
choice, but you could throw a cap
over the three of them in terms of
quality.
The Ireland boss is also blessed
in the full back positions. Spurs'
exciting Stephen Carr, perhaps now
the best full back in Britain, and
Leeds’s Ian Harte will currently
fill those positions, but McCarthy
can also call on the experience of
Steve Staunton, Gary Kelly and
Geoff Kenna to fill in. If there
is a major weakness in the side,
it is at centre-half. Although
Breen and Dunne performed
heroically against Holland and
Portugal, both have yet to prove
that they are likely to be
consistent performers at this
level. However, the return of
Wimbledon’s Kenny Cunningham
should help to solve the problem.
Moreover, out-of-favour Phil Babb
is beginning to show a return to
form at Sporting Lisbon, and Gary
Doherty is providing a hope for
the future at Spurs.
But it is in the midfield where
the heart of the team lies. The
qualities of Roy Keane were again
evident in Nicosia. However, the
quality of his trusty lieutenant
Mark Kinsella should not be
underestimated. Together, the two
have the ability to tackle the
world’s best. They provide a
formidable barrier in front of the
defence, but also jealously guard
possession - a critical factor in
the international game. It is to
McCarthy’s credit that he has
given Kinsella the opportunity to
shine. He is also blessed by
having useful understudies in Lee
Carsley and Holland.
The Republic’s shape is defined
by the availability of left and
right-footed wide players. Kilbane
has gradually nailed down the left
flank, while Jason McAteer has
been hinting at the form that saw
him terrorise the great Paolo
Maldini back in 1994. The width
provided by Ireland’s wide
players allows the team to stretch
and get in behind their
opposition, providing good service
to the front line of Niall Quinn -
who, at 34 is playing the best
football of his career - and the
talented Robbie Keane.
At present, the Irish always look
capable of creating goalscoring
opportunities. McCarthy now seems
to know what his best side is. He
now also appears capable of
getting the best out of them. If
he is lucky, and the side stays
free of injuries, then the
Republic are capable of taking all
three points from the currently
fragile Dutch in Dublin. Victory
there could all but end the hopes
of the men in orange, struggling
to recapture their sparkle after
the retirement of Dennis Bergkamp.
They added a defeat at home to
Portugal to their home draw with
the Republic. Should the Irish
then obtain a draw at home to the
Portuguese and victory over the
minnows of the group in Dublin, a
place in the play-offs is likely.
However, should McCarthy suffer
the loss of either of his front
men and Roy Keane, then
qualification may well be beyond
them. With their strongest XI, the
Republic can make it to Japan and
Korea. Without them, heartbreak
remains the more likely outcome.
What do
you reckon? Mail Paul at littleatlarge@dangerhere.com
or post your thoughts on our
message boards.
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