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Q & A: Ireland coach Mick McCarthy
Posted: Tuesday April 23, 2002 5:44 PM
What
do you think of the draw?
It doesn't really matter who you get, you have to play them, but
we are happy enough. Germany are obviously not as strong as they
used to be, we have seen a fair bit of Saudi Arabia because we nearly
met in the playoffs. My assistant Ian Evans checked out Cameroon
at the African Nations Cup. We won't be caught by surprise.
Who
are your key players?
We are a team and I wouldn't like to single out any individual players.
I am not being smart, but we will see who the key players are when
the competition gets under way.
Who
will win the World Cup?
I'll go for France to keep the Cup for another four years.
Who
will be the surprises?
Senegal could be one of the surprises. Playerwise, I like the Nigeria-born
Olisadebe, who now plays for Poland. I gave him my third vote in
the recent FIFA coaches poll.
Will
the conditions affect you?
I hope not. We are going out early enough -- we leave Dublin on May
17 and will spend some time on the island of Saipan getting acclimatized.
By the first game we should be tuned in with the local time. I don't
think the weather will be anything like the team had to endure in
the USA in 1994. In fact, it may be into the rainy season.
You
captained the Republic in 1990. Are you more excited now going to
the finals as a manager?
I am more excited this time around. I've gone close a few times,
so now you could say I have got my reward at long last. As a manager
there's definitely more of a sense of achievement.
Are
you worried that referees may not be consistent?
I'm not worried in general. But our game against Cameroon on June
1 is the first game in Japan. There will be a ceremony before the
game, and I'm a bit worried that the referee may try to show his
authority for the dignitaries present.
Will
an Eircom League player ever make your team?
I've called up two local strikers, Glen Crowe of Bohemians and Stephen
Geoghegan of Shelbourne. I don't pick the squad on personalities;
if they are good enough they will get a chance.
Do
you mind always being compared with Jack Charlton?
No, it doesn't bother me at all. Jack was a great manager for the
Republic, and as a player I was part of that success. I hope I can
emulate Jack and get the Republic to the European Championship finals
as well.
Did
you ever think that all this success would come your way?
If I am honest, no. When I made my debut in May 1984, the Republic
were going through a bad spell and we had only around 8,000 at the
game. Now we are getting full houses at Lansdowne Road for friendlies.
From World Soccer magazine.
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