Ireland vs. Latvia - Review

After the interminable, over-analysed circus of media conferences, football mercifully took centre stage on Friday night, as the Martin O'Neill reign began. Although the opposition must be taken into account when analysing such a performance, there were plenty of positives to take from Ireland's 3-0 victory over Latvia. All round, Ireland's players showed much more urgency and willingness to receive the ball, make angles, create space, link up, and move the ball forward to create chances. These factors should form the basis of any competent performance at international level - particularly given the increasing technicality of modern football - but Ireland's execution was a class apart from anything that the same players produced under Trapattoni. Even the more impressive wins against similar opposition under the Italian (Northern Ireland, Oman, Faroe Islands, Estonia, etc) were devoid of the subtlety that we saw on Friday night. For the first time at the new Aviva stadium, we saw consistent application of a modern, technical game-plan from the home side.

In possession from the back, Ireland's back four was encouraged to spread wider than usual, allowing a deep-lying midfielder to come to a 'first-receiver' position. With full-backs already in advanced positions, Ireland could create outlets and options for that first receiver (usually McCarthy) to spread the play. An intriguing development was the deployment of Wilson as a 'footballing centre-half' to assist in bringing the ball into midfield, allowing Whelan or McCarthy to push on. Ireland's problems under Trapattoni lay in the two sitting midfielders being outnumbered, receiving little help from elsewhere, as the rigidity of the 4-4-2 formation forbade any fluid movement in possession. Against Latvia, three of the back four could expect to be involved in the build-up, while Keane and Hoolahan took turns to drop back, crowding out the Latvians. Accordingly, Ireland kept possession, McCarthy and Whelan had options, and chances inevitably came. Ireland scored thrice, but could have scored more but for sloppy finishing and good goalkeeping. For a change, it seemed as though Ireland's midfield posed a genuine threat.

Obviously, against better opposition, there will be a risk of being caught on the counter attack with such a fluid gameplan. Ireland's tactic against Latvia was to press and harry high up the pitch, once possession had been lost, to stymie counter attacks at the source, and revert to a more rigid system once the ball reached the middle third. A simple system, based on tactical principles which are accepted as common practice among Europe's best sides. It was refreshing to see an Irish team carrying out these fundamentals with such aplomb, as Westwood did not have one significant save to make.

One aspect of O'Neill's pragmatism which came into notable effect was the deployment, from the start, of players playing in their correct positions. Left-footed players (Ward, McClean) on the left, right-footers (Coleman, McGeady) on the right. Ireland had a balance and natural width which really aided the quick build-up and fluidity of Ireland's attack. Unfortunately, Stephen Ward - the only Irish player to seem remotely uncomfortable on Friday - remains the only left-footed left-back available to Ireland at any decent level. An alternative needs to be promoted - or fished from the progeny of the diaspora - as quickly as possible.

Poland on Tuesday will be a tougher test, but with O'Neill set to rotate dramatically from the first-choice in order to 'give everyone a run', it may be difficult to get a real sense of where Ireland are heading in the grand scheme. The injured Pilkington, Brady and Gibson are also set to come back into the reckoning at some stage of the next year, with the likes of Stephen Quinn and David Meyler also likely to play themselves back into contention, so the starting XI against Poland could bear little resemblance to anything O'Neill may field again. Forde, Kelly, Clark, Green, Andy Reid and Walters are all in contention to start. It will be interesting to see if O'Neill persists with a similar gameplan to that of Friday night, and how effective it can be away from home against a team of similar rank.

End the Anthem Butchery

The only piece of negativity from the Latvia game, in my view, was the decision by the FAI to retain the services of model Nadia Forde, who once again butchered the National Anthem with her Americanised, egotistical, dragged-out warblings.

The singing of the National Anthem is a special moment; a bond between team and fans. It is part of the ethereal 'X-factor' of a home game - an expression of pride and the intangible common bonds of ancestry and culture that unite the players and those who have come to will them on to victory. It, in a way, defines the tribal magic of International football. It is contaminated, homogenised and infuriatingly bastardised when a solo singer leads the procession. It should be about team and fans singing  together above the music. No third party should interfere with that bond - and certainly not distract from it with narcissistic note-milking. And yes, I would say the exact same if it were a male vocalist. Contrast the singing of Amhran na bhFiann in Poznan last year, or in Croke Park in 2007 for the Ireland - England rugby game, to Forde's cringe-inducing efforts.

It has been pointed out that the FAI does have quite a strong link to Denis O'Brien these days - a man who has made some capital from promoting the likes of Forde, and other Irish models, in his media publications. O'Brien would surely need to have dealings with their agencies, to keep the 'respectable' Sunday Independent brimming with fresh masturbation aids. Call me a cynic, but there seems to be more to this than meets the eye, given how unpopular the idea of solo anthem singers has proven, and the ridicule that Forde's performance has attracted from the Irish fans.

An intriguing appointment, but not without risks

With Martin O'Neill now confirmed as the Irish senior team manager, it comes as a relief that the search was not a long, drawn-out affair, as it was in the wake of Kerr and Staunton's departures in 2005 and 2007. The friendlies against Latvia and Poland will give the new management team a decent opportunity to set a marker, and the winter should provide an adequate 'settling in' period for O'Neill and his assistants to familiarise themselves fully with the available talent, and get to grips with their various responsibilities. There should be no excuse for the new Irish team being 'caught cold' when the Euro 2016 qualifiers come around.

From the first, O'Neill was the outstanding candidate. With more club-level pedigree and a greater reputation than the likes of McCarthy, McDermott, O'Leary, Coyle or Hughton, he was certainly the best Irish option. While other non-Irish names were reportedly in the mix, there was no outstanding, realistic candidate among them - furthermore, Trapattoni showed, in his more eccentric moments, the risks of appointing a foreign manager from left-field for one last pay-day. 

However, in saying that, O'Neill's pedigree is mostly built on his time with Celtic, where he inspired the previously hapless Bhoys to three league titles in five years. With O'Neill at the helm, Celtic enjoyed a plethora of memorable European performances, including victories over Juventus, Barcelona, Ajax and Liverpool, and reaching the UEFA Cup Final in 2003. While overtaking the hugely dominant Rangers with a smaller budget was undoubtedly a feat, Scotland is not an adequate testing ground for players or managers to shine at a higher level. Take away O'Neill's Parkhead achievements, and his record is no more impressive than that of, say, the out-of-work Tony Pulis and Alan Curbishley. O'Neill boasts a couple of trophies and regular mid-table finishes with Leicester, guiding Aston Villa to a couple of above-average finishes, and - most recently - battling relegation with Sunderland. He is a good manager at EPL level, but hardly a miracle worker or a hugely 'technical' coach.

However, O'Neill is more than qualified to manage Ireland. Lets not forget that Giles and Staunton got the gig with no managerial experience, while Hand and Kerr got their shot off the back of their League of Ireland and under-age achievements. Jack Charlton had managed in the top flight of English football for only four of his twelve years in club football (in a very 'unsophisticated' era for the game) before taking the Ireland job, and Mick McCarthy had three-and-a-half seasons with Millwall in the second tier. O'Neill's achievements in the game eclipse all of his predecessors bar Trapattoni, and the Derry man will not bring the same eccentricity or communication issues, and he will hopefully work harder to evaluate (and even reinforce) the Irish playing pool. Every managerial appointment is a risk, and every record will be scrutinized at this level - but O'Neill is a big enough character, with a strong enough record, to withstand the cynicism of the average Irish punters (i.e. denizens of the RTE Sport comments section).

Speaking of these grumblings, a lot of the more heated debate has centred on the identity of his assistant. Roy Keane remains an intensely divisive figure in Irish football - for some, an honest, uncompromising champion of ambition and professionalism, with a track record as captain of both Ireland and Manchester United to back up that reputation. On the other hand, he is a flawed character; often seeming impulsive, severe, abrasive, brooding, distant, and lacking in the kind of compassion and humanity that we see from the best managers - characteristics that were his undoing at Sunderland and Ipswich. Compare the jovial, engaging, inclusive, nice-guy personality of Jurgen Klopp to the scowling bitterness of Keane, and it's clear that top-level football management has moved on from simple 'rule by intimidation'. Furthermore, international football is not the place to fall out with players, as Trapattoni learned. There is a dignity and tact required, which O'Neill will certainly bring - it remains to be seen how Keane's 'my way or the highway' approach will fit into the requirements of his job, particularly given the fact that O'Neill will have the final say on personnel and tactics.

Keane's actual role does warrant clarification, but it is certainly an exciting and intriguing appointment, which promises to entertain - on and off the pitch. This Irish team has a core of mostly young players - such as Clark, Coleman, Wilson, Gibson, Meyler, McCarthy, Brady, and Pilkington - who have yet to really 'find themselves' as internationals, nor put down a serious, consistent marker at this level. If Keane can channel some of his ferocity, knowledge and ambition in a constructive way on the training pitch, and O'Neill brings his famed man-management skills, this crop of players could really grow as international players and thrive. One thing is for sure - there will be no strops or petulant tweeting if players are left out.

There is certainly potential for unwanted drama, with Keane on board, but hopefully the entertainment will keep to the confines of the pitch, and Ireland - like the Celtic team of 2000 - can be shaken out of their slump.

Into the Great Beyond...

In a way, Ireland's performance in Vienna summed up the World Cup qualification effort under Trapattoni - some flickering, futile glimpses of promise, outweighed by a lack of imagination and ambition, a dearth of assertiveness and confidence, and - finally - the submission of a shaky defence to yet another easily-avoidable goal. Unfortunately, the identity of the goalscorer underlined a damning deficiency in Ireland's player pool - we do not currently possess a player like Alaba or Ibrahimovic - a top-class individual who can provide that extra spark to lift their side above mediocrity. Ireland were not beaten by outstanding, technical sides playing free-flowing football. Both Sweden and Austria were vulnerable and often sloppy in their general play, and certainly beatable - had the correct Irish teams been picked, and deployed with the ambition and authority one should expect from a world-class manager. Trapattoni failed to provide this, and for an Irish team to be virtually eliminated from a playoff position with two games to spare is unacceptable. The world ranking now stands at 59 - an alarming new low. Of the previous national team managers in the modern era, only the gormless designs of Steve Staunton in 2006/7 have plumbed such depths. Trap had to go, and the prompt severance of ties was something of a relief.

In writing the epitaph to his reign, it must be noted that Trapattoni inherited a mess when he took the job in 2008, and quickly restored team spirit, purpose, organisation and discipline to the side. Ireland's away record and ability to grind out victories against the smaller nations was very commendable, especially considering the travails of other mid-ranked European sides at the same time, and it brought us to two playoffs and one qualification - a record which bettered the efforts of many traditionally strong teams in the same campaigns, like Serbia, Belgium, Turkey, Switzerland and Romania.

However, there was a certain complacency at the heart of the Trapattoni era which was eventually our undoing. It was assumed that the defence was solid and organised when it was actually quite vulnerable, particularly at set-pieces, and that didn't change. Central midfield was screaming out for a change from the very early days - a competent alternative to Steven Reid was never found, nor even sought, after his injury. Even in our successful campaign, we struggled on carrying these flaws, limping home against Macedonia and Armenia, picking up the points that Slovakia threw away, and taking advantage of the weakest draw in the history of UEFA-zone playoffs. As the likes of Duff and Given retired, and Dunne, Doyle and Keane became less influential, we started to see some really odd selections in the squad, and increasingly, the starting line-up. These situations could have been dealt with better. By 2012, Trap had taken the team as far as he could, but then, hindsight is a fine thing. Despite how it all ended, Trap remains a charismatic, dignified and genial football man, and as an Irish fan, he has my gratitude and goodwill, despite how it all ended.

During the 2002 World Cup qualifiers - Ireland's last successful campaign before Trapattoni - Ireland used twenty-six players - thirteen Premiership players, four 'Division 1' players, and nine who had played at both levels in the fourteen months of the campaign. In the current group, Trapattoni used twenty-seven players - ten EPL players, eleven Championship, three who have played both EPL and Championship, and three (Keane, McGeady and O'Dea) from 'other' leagues of varying quality. Aiden McGeady is the only Irish international to have played Champions League football in the last year. It would suggest a slight degradation in the quality of Ireland's player pool since those heady days under Mick McCarthy, but it must also be noted that expensive foreign players were not quite as prevalent in 2000/01, when clubs like Leeds and Ipswich could challenge for Europe with mostly home-grown squads. Also, in 2001, McCarthy did not have to deal with so many top-flight regulars in self-imposed exiles, such as Stephen Ireland and Darron Gibson, nor high-profile retirees in good club form, like Damien Duff and (arguably) Steven Reid. Many of those listed Championship denizens (Sammon, Keogh, Fahey, Cox, Green, Andrews and Ward) were controversial selections to begin with. The Irish player pool is not quite as horrendous as we think, and the new manager certainly should have something to work with. A good midfield can potentially be constructed from the talents of Brady, Gibson, McCarthy, McGeady, Pilkington, Quinn and Hoolahan, many of whom were ignored, mistrusted or misused by Trapattoni, in favour of lesser players. Anthony Stokes would also provide a decent striking option, so long as he stays off the pints and keeps impressing at Champions League level.

So, who is it going to be?

Of the Irish contenders, Martin O'Neill is the obvious front-runner, and rightly so. O'Neill's time at Celtic was punctuated with some stirring European performances, particularly in reaching the 2003 UEFA Cup final. Though he squandered quite a lot of money at Aston Villa, he kept them punching their weight in the top half, and they suffered quite badly upon his departure. Even at Sunderland, where he may have lost the energy required for day-to-day club management, he still pulled out some decent wins - notably at home to champions-elect Manchester City in early 2012. The sporadic nature of international football would appeal to a manager who has built his reputation on big occasions and inspirational man-management, and his genial nature would do wonders for the Irish team's communication issues and oft-frayed public relations. However, he does have his critics, particularly with regard to his preferred direct style of play, which some reckon would be a throwback to the worst elements of Trapattoni's era. It is not an unfounded criticism - the utilisation of big centre-forwards was a hallmark of his time with Leicester, Celtic and Villa, but Celtic did play some high-tempo attacking football too - one of his first games with Celtic was a frenetic 6-2 win over Dick Advocaat's Rangers.

Mick McCarthy has been mentioned, but they always say 'never go back', and he would bring a certain amount of baggage to the job - not just from Saipan, but from a history of strange tactical decisions and puzzling loyalties, most notably in the botched Euro 2000 qualifiers, when we were treated to the sight of a thirty-seven-year-old Tony Cascarino starting a playoff while Damien Duff remained on the bench. Chris Hughton is another good 'name', but he may be unwilling to leave Norwich, and his involvement as assistant manager during the tactically flawed Brian Kerr regime should not be forgotten. As for Roy Keane... well, if you thought Trapattoni was eccentric, undiplomatic and prone to alienating players, just ask Clive Clarke about the Corkman's inclusive and progressive approach to man-management. Put simply, he's too much of a headcase to be anywhere near the job.

'I liked Ralf Rangnick before he was cool, man.'

With Denis O'Brien again putting his funds towards the new manager's salary, Ireland do have options. Trapattoni was very much a left-field candidate before he was approached by the 'kingmakers' in 2008, and the FAI could yet spring another surprise, given that they are not rushing their appointment. Much depends on the job description. In Denmark, for example, Morten Olsen has been working in a wide-ranging capacity of both senior team manager and technical director, working closely with the grassroots of Danish football. This Scandinavian approach has won plenty of admirers among more well-informed Irish fans, and the right appointment could provide the far-reaching changes and continuity required by Ireland at underage and grassroots level. Unfortunately, this progressive approach to development did not stop the Danes from being hockeyed 4-0 at home to Armenia last March - it seems there is no 'magic formula' in international football. If the Irish managerial position is to be solely focused on short-term results, it's a different story - a motivator like O'Neill would do just fine - but if the brief includes wider technical development, then a more Continental influence would surely be required. Just to be a hipster about it, and because I have a slight fondness for the Germans, I'm going to throw Ralf Rangnick's name out there.

The appointment of Noel King as interim manager for the Germany and Kazakhstan games is a sensible one, as King has certainly improved the fortunes of the Irish U-21s since taking over from the much-maligned Don Givens. He tends to favour a more attractive, modern style of play, which may provide an interesting window into the ability of Ireland's players to adapt from the turgid physicality of 'Trap-ball' into something more sophisticated. At this stage, we're looking for any positive signs.

Sweden post-mortem

For half an hour at Lansdowne Road on Friday night, everything was falling into place. Under pressure from the fast-paced, physical Irish onslaught, the Swedish back four were on edge, slicing clearances into touch, needlessly conceding possession. Ireland had taken the lead through an opportunistic and brave effort from Robbie Keane. McClean had struck the crossbar, and Sweden seemed to have wasted their best chances, with Sebastian Larsson heading wide after Ibrahimovic found him unmarked. It brought to mind Patrick Kluivert and the chances that Holland missed on that crazy afternoon in 2001. In a psychological battle between two sides lacking in subtlety, everything was going Ireland's way, and it was set to be the first genuinely famous night under Trapattoni at Lansdowne Road.

However, as the outstanding Zlatan Ibrahimovic started to wield more influence, Ireland switched off and allowed Sweden to get back into the game. Despite Trapattoni's reputation for building solid 'catenaccio' systems, Ireland's defending was slipshod and incompetent for the two crucial, preventable goals. McClean fell asleep for the first goal, closing down an already-marked Larsson to allow Lustig the time and space to pick out a dangerous cross. Whelan was caught in no-man's land in the second half, as the 37-year-old Anders Svensson bisected the Irish defence to finish past David Forde. Ireland's attempts to force an equaliser slipped away in a flurry of long balls and poor decision-making, particularly from the hard-running but frustrating Long. As the game slipped away, Ireland's morale and self-belief expired.

There has been a lot of soul-searching in the past few days. Trapattoni blamed the Irish grassroots for failing to provide the requisite talent, with an ill-advised dig at the domestic league. Many pundits, conversely, blame Trapattoni for not making the best of what is available. It's a circular argument which reflects negatively on both Ireland's playing pool and how they have been managed since Paris in 2009, when Ireland out-passed a French side containing Henry, Evra, Gourcuff and Anelka. The foundations were laid that night for an exciting, strong, competitive Irish team, but it was never built upon. Qualification for the Euros was, on paper, a fait accompli, but the Slovakian collapse in that group, and an amazingly fortunate playoff draw, tended to obscure the glaring weaknesses in the Irish side. Those weaknesses have been ruthlessly exposed ever since.

The Irish defence has never been wholly reliable or consistent under Trapattoni. Think back to goals conceded from set-pieces against Italy (twice), Croatia, Slovakia, Russia and Kazakhstan - the type of goals that should not be conceded by a well-organised team. The centre of midfield has been a wasteland, populated by players who lack the requisite technical ability to fill the basic requirements at this level. The likes of Whelan, Andrews and Green are fine athletes, but the 37-year-old Svensson - who never played for a bigger club than Southampton in his career - showed on Friday night that intelligent movement and sound technique will always trump graft and attrition in the international arena. Neither he, Albin Ekdal, nor Kim Kallstrom could be regarded as midfield enforcers in the Makelele or Roy Keane mould - they are tidy footballers who do the basics, make their interceptions, keep the ball, and provide a link between defence and attack.

The game no longer calls for midfielders to fly into tackles with the ferocity and frequency of yesteryear. Statistics show that Bayern Munich - the German and European Champions, regarded as pioneers of modern, technical football - averaged fourteen tackles per game last season. Even Everton, who were regarded as a 'physical' side under David Moyes, averaged a total of eighteen, with central midfielders making between three and five tackles per game. Given this trend, in a game where midfield players are expected to average between fifty and sixty passes in the ninety minutes, is it fair or even sensible that Wes Hoolahan is omitted from the Irish team for his perceived lack of athleticism or defensive ability?

Players like Hoolahan, McCarthy, Andy Reid, Stephen Quinn, Chris McCann, Owen Garvan and Darron Gibson have all been available to the Irish manager since 2009. All are regarded as better passers of the ball than Andrews, Whelan and Green, and have mostly played at a comparable level in England to those incumbents. Then, consider that Trapattoni has latterly pursued a baffling propensity for putting one-dimensional strikers - Cox, Keogh and Walters - on the wing instead of trusting the promising talents of Robbie Brady. Is there any doubt that Trapattoni has erred in his brief to pick the most effective Irish team? He has created a defensively-minded team that can't actually defend; a team which plays long, high balls to Keane, Doyle and Long, who are all under six feet tall. The midfield is picked for its defensive ability, yet their individual and collective inability to keep possession constantly puts Ireland on the back foot. It is a mess of self-defeating and unnecessary contradictions which leaves the Irish players at a considerable handicap before a ball is kicked.

Ireland will go into battle against Austria tonight needing a favour from Kazakhstan to stay within distance of a playoff place, yet it seems immaterial. The Trapattoni era is in its death throes, and an unlikely win tonight may only provide a stay of execution. Even if, by some miracle, Ireland scraped into second place, the 'worst runners-up' spot would be a very realistic fate. Austria are a more sophisticated team than Sweden, with a solid core of Bundesliga players, marshalled by the excellent David Alaba. The way they outplayed Ireland in the second half in Dublin does not bode well for tonight's game. The mood can not be positive in the Irish camp after Friday night, and though we may see a spirited performance, the required victory should be a bridge too far.

Ireland's hopes will go no further, but the discussions will continue, at least until the Euro 2016 campaign begins. How can Ireland go forward? Will a change of manager consign the international side to Wales/Scotland also-ran status, or will the mistakes of Trapattoni's era be rectified? Where are the players going to come from? 

The dysfunction and schism at grassroots level, the financial travails of the League of Ireland, and the trend of Irish players coming through English academies to be sold off to lower-tier sides without any top-level experience - these are the challenges which continue to face Irish football, and none can be resolved without a major overhaul. That, unfortunately, would require investment and capital which is beyond the FAI's resources at present, even if the expertise were there to formulate any wide-reaching technical development plan. Discussion about such reform will remain a utopian pipe dream until the brains and the finance are readily available to the FAI, without being held back by the misdirected funding, abuses of power, cronyism and shoddy administration we have come to expect from the maligned Association.

In spite of all this, there are enough Irish players knocking about at a high level to be competitive against teams like Bulgaria, Slovakia, Sweden and Austria, and pose a more compelling challenge in these games. A manager is required with the organisational skills, common-sense, diplomacy and progressive approach to get the best out of this Irish player pool, and despite his pedigree, Trapattoni has not proved to be that man. Despite initial glimpses of promise in the 2010 qualifiers, and the kudos acquired from grinding out important victories in the Euro 2012 campaign, Ireland have regressed to something far removed from the organised, well-drilled, tactically aware, patient and mentally strong unit that Trapattoni's appointment and early performances promised in 2008. Trapattoni's mistakes in 2012 and 2013 have brought to mind the worst of Brian Kerr's conservatism and Staunton's bizarre selections and defensive frailty. We had a right to expect more.

Ireland vs. Sweden preview

So, the day is upon us. The beginning of a two-game series which will decide Ireland's World Cup playoff fate, and there is a strange sense of optimism in the camp. The game is a sell-out, the Irish team is close to full-strength, Sweden have been weakened, and come to Dublin under considerable pressure.

Trapattoni named his starting XI yesterday for a game which will go a long way to defining his reign. Despite some disconcerting reports during the week, when it was revealed that McShane and Cox had lined up on the left side for the 'probables' team in training, Trapattoni's eventual line-up has a reassuring feel to it. O'Shea and Dunne resume centre-back duties for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Italy in 2009, while Wilson was deemed fit enough to take the left-back berth. Coleman will raid forward from the other flank. Whelan and McCarthy line up in central midfield, with McClean and Walters getting the nod in the intriguing wing positions. Brady is unfortunate to miss out, and his absence means there is no recognised set-piece taker in the side. Keane and Long start up front.

Though Pilkington and Brady would be considered Ireland's form wingers, the incumbents offer admirable work-rate and physicality. McClean is a strange player - his early EPL form for Sunderland was genuinely outstanding, but he can often look one-dimensional, one-footed and clumsy, depending on form and mood. His recent performances for Ireland have been good, however, since a lacklustre display against Poland. Walters, on the other flank, will keep his marker honest and provide a target for Ireland's more 'direct' phases of play.

In theory, Sweden are tailor-made opponents for such a big game. Under Trapattoni, the Irish midfield has often struggled against opponents who crowd the midfield, with a playmaker (Hamsik, Modric, Dzagoev, Alaba) thus allowed to dictate the flow of a game against an undermanned engine room. Sweden will line up with a relatively straightforward 4-4-2, potentially opening up space for the Irish midfield to get on the ball. It will be open, physical, fast-paced and not very pretty - in other words, an EPL-style game.

It seems likely that Sweden will deploy 37-year-old former Southampton player Anders Svensson alongside Kim Kallstrom in the midfield instead of the highly-rated Albin Ekdal, which gives the Swedish midfield a pedestrian look, and offers James McCarthy a genuine chance of imposing himself on the game. Furthermore, Sweden's full-backs seem to lack the attacking ability that Ireland possess (how strange it seems to be able to type those words) with Wilson and Coleman. Sweden are also missing Tobias Sana and Rasmus Elm - possibly their two most highly-rated players after Ibrahimovic. Ireland will not have a better chance to upset a higher-ranked team at home.

However, there are two reasons to be doubtful about Ireland's chances - the foremost and obvious one being Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He looked disinterested in Stockholm when marshalled by Green, O'Shea and Clark, and if Ireland manage to cut off his supply line, he can be nullified. No striker is unstoppable, and Ireland have the discipline and experience at centre-back to get the job done. However, this is the first game of genuine intensity that Richard Dunne will have played since Euro 2012, and approaching 34, it remains to be seen if he can restore past glories (though it must be pointed out that the likes of Paul McGrath, Kevin Moran and Kenny Cunningham turned in some immense performances for Ireland in their mid-30s). O'Shea gave away a needless penalty last weekend for Sunderland, and could be vulnerable if his confidence has been dented. Zlatan is capable of scoring from even the slightest of opportunities, so in a game which promises to be tight, Ireland need to be vigilant. Cast your mind to the home game with France in 2005, when Thierry Henry was arguably the best striker in world football. Well-marshalled and quiet for most of the game, but after one lapse, the ball was in the net, and Ireland were dealt a fatal blow in the group. Such are the margins at this level.

The other lingering doubt comes from the lack of 'winning mentality' in the Irish camp. It's been over six years since Ireland won a game at home against higher-ranked opposition - and that was against Slovakia during the Staunton era. Memories of stalemates against Bulgaria, Slovakia and Austria will be vividly evoked if Ireland find themselves playing without the ball for any extended periods. Kim Kallstrom - if he starts - has the experience and talent to counter McCarthy, take the sting out of the game, and ensure decent possession for his side. If Robbie Keane is not instructed to drop back into midfield and challenge Sweden's deep-lying playmakers, Ireland's strikers could become isolated and static - also, Long will not find it easy to win 50-50 challenges against Sweden's Leviathan defenders. Ireland's form at HQ has been the bugbear of Trapattoni's reign, with Cyprus and Macedonia being the highest-ranked teams to lose in Dublin. That statistic needs to change tonight, otherwise Ireland could well be out of the running with games to spare.

Sweden's last visit to Dublin in 2006 yielded a 3-0 win for Ireland. A good omen?

There is genuine reason for optimism tonight, as Sweden are quite similar in style to Ireland, and their deficiencies are familiar ones, befitting of a team heavily influenced by the rough-and-tumble of EPL football. The visitors do have a trump card in Ibrahimovic, but Ireland should not be fearful. A stirring win at Lansdowne is overdue. The Austria game was agonisingly close to providing that victory, but Ireland look stronger and wiser now, and Sweden lack the tactical flexibility and overall technical ability that Alaba and his comrades brought to Dublin. A victory tonight can provide a much-needed confidence-boost before those daunting trips to Vienna and Cologne. Here's hoping the Irish team can live up to expectations.

Ireland: Forde; Coleman, Dunne, O'Shea, Wilson; Walters, McCarthy, Whelan, McClean; Keane, Long.

Sweden (probable): Isaksson; Granqvist, Antonsson, Nilsson, M Olsson; Larsson, Svensson, Kallstrom, Kacaniklic; Ibrahimovic; Elmander

Irish Abroad - Update

James McCarthy was the big Irish mover on transfer deadline day, completing a wholly unsurprising move to Everton, where he will link up with his old manager at Wigan, Roberto Martinez, as well as fellow Irishmen Seamus Coleman, Darron Gibson and Shane Duffy. The other big talking point of the day involved Shane Long's proposed move to Hull from West Brom, after the Baggies splashed out on Victor Anichebe. The fact that Steve Clarke was willing to part company with Long is worrying, but the Irish striker needs to kick himself back to the level he's capable of, and the arrival of Anichebe may provide the motivation.

Last weekend was a more disappointing affair for the Irish in the EPL. Although Robbie Brady put in an impressive display against Man City (his defensive effort should be noted by Trapattoni), only Coleman, O'Brien, Walters, Wilson, Westwood, O'Shea, Delaney and Long started for their clubs - a total of nine Irishmen. O'Shea gave away a penalty and was sent off for Sunderland, incurring the wrath of Paolo di Canio in the post-match interviews. In the Championship, Richard Dunne helped QPR to a clean sheet in a 1-0 win at Leeds, while Andy Reid continued his outstanding start to the season with a goal for Forest at Wigan. Across the Atlantic, Robbie Keane brought his tally to 12 goals in 15 games for the Galaxy in the 'California Classico' against San Jose Earthquakes. Anthony Stokes continued his good form for Celtic with the winner at Dundee United. In Ukraine, Darren O'Dea started for Metalurg Donetsk as they lost to Volyn.

Thankfully, the main senior Irish players came through the weekend injury-free. St. Ledger and McGeady have, as expected, lost their battles for fitness, while Joey O'Brien has been retained by West Ham, reportedly for a necessary knee procedure, which is scheduled for the international break. Stephen Kelly has the birth of his child to attend to, but may return to the squad. Anthony Pilkington has joined up with the squad for the first time, and is reportedly in the mix for a place on the wing, along with Brady, McClean, Walters and, worryingly, Simon Cox. Marc Wilson was rated doubtful, but Trapattoni is confident that he will be fit. Bristol Rovers' Greg Cunningham has been called up as a precaution.

Irish squad for Sweden/Austria

As the perils of social media have come under increased scrutiny at home, a footballer has added one more contribution to the litany of Irish online faux-pas. Andy Keogh may not be guilty of fellating multiple men in public, or being spit-roasted by rugby players, but he may still come to regret his petulant outburst on Twitter, bemoaning his absence from the Irish squad to play Sweden and Austria.

Keogh's grievance will surely bring the issue of 'communication' back to the fore among the mainstream sports media, even when it is acknowledged that standard practice is for players to be alerted of selection by the FAI through the clubs. Since Keogh was initially left out of the squad to play Wales, he could not have been too surprised about his omission for the bigger games ahead, especially with McGeady and Keane fit again. Furthermore, Trapattoni has been staunchly loyal to the Millwall striker since his appointment - thirty caps is a mighty haul when compared to Irish players of similar club status, such as Daryl Murphy, Keith Treacy, Leon Best and Anthony Stokes. It seems puerile to throw 'loyalty' back in the manager's face - especially when the Dubliner's performances for club and country have been generally below-par. This is not Keogh's first offence on Twitter - he let one go last June about his dissatisfaction with being deployed for Ireland on the wing. However, his goalscoring record for Millwall last season - seven goals in forty-nine appearances - will not convince anyone of his striking abilities either.

On the other hand, these incidents have continued to plague Trapattoni for most of his reign, from the initial discussions with Stephen Ireland, through the Andy and Steven Reid sagas, and various spats with James McCarthy, Marc Wilson, Darron Gibson, Stephen Kelly and Shane Long. Trapattoni certainly does not mollycoddle his players, which is somewhat refreshing in a footballing era littered with inflated egos - however, an international manager must know when to be compassionate as well as tough. Alienating your players is foolhardy when they cannot be readily replaced. If a regular squad member is being dropped, a brief explanation on the phone wouldn't be too much to ask.

To more important matters, and Joey O'Brien is back in the Irish squad after a long absence to provide cover across the back four. The West Ham defender made his début in Ireland's last home win over Sweden in 2006, and is one of only four Irish 'survivors' from that game, along with Dunne, O'Shea and Keane. That fact is a great testimony to his persistence, after a succession of knee injuries threatened to cut short his promising career, when he was told he may never play again. Despite playing regular EPL football, O'Brien has been overlooked by Trapattoni since his last appearance against Oman last September, and it is good to see him back.

Richard Dunne and Robbie Keane also return, along with Sean St. Ledger, who was not expected to make it after sustaining a knee injury two weeks ago. David Forde is also back, but faces a race against time to be match-fit. Trapattoni has an interesting call to make on the centre-back position, with an in-form O'Shea being the only genuinely assured option. Dunne has only started three games at club level after a year's absence, while St. Ledger will not be anywhere near full fitness. Clark is also an option, and may well get the nod if Dunne is not risked, but his gaffe against Austria - and recent demotion at Aston Villa - are not reassuring.

The Pilkster.

The uncapped Anthony Pilkington also gets a chance to prove his fitness and commitment, and could actually get some game-time, given Ireland's paucity of wing options after McGeady. Trapattoni has questioned Brady's suitability for the defensive aspect of his gameplan, and McClean continued to look one-dimensional against Wales. A few minutes on the pitch would be enough to tie the Norwich man to Ireland in perpetuity, putting any lingering rumours about his allegiance to bed. His recent Twitter pictures should go some way to alleviating our fears about what could happen if Roy Hodgson gave him a call.

Ireland squad to play Sweden and Austria:

Goalkeepers: Forde, Westwood, Randolph.
Defenders: O’Shea, O’Brien, St Ledger, Wilson, Coleman, Kelly, O’Dea, Clark, Dunne, McShane.
Midfielders: Whelan, McCarthy, Green, Hendrick, McGeady, Pilkington, McClean, Brady, Meyler, Hoolahan.
Strikers: Long, Keane, Sammon, Walters, Madden, Cox.

Irish Abroad, 17th/18th of August

It was an encouraging weekend for the Irish contingent in England, with plenty of full internationals and fringe players seeing significant game-time, despite even the more modest EPL clubs making substantial outlays on new recruits this summer. The most pleasant surprise was Kieren Westwood starting in goal for Sunderland, beating competition from new signing Vito Mannone. Given David Forde's injury, Ireland were at risk of going into the Sweden and Austria games with an undercooked or inexperienced goalkeeper, so it is encouraging to see Westwood finally getting some competitive action. John O'Shea also retained his place at centre-back. Seamus Coleman capped a good performance with a goal in Everton's 2-2 draw with Norwich - Wes Hoolahan started for the Canaries, in his usual playmaker role. Ciaran Clark came on as an early substitute during Villa's shock win at Arsenal, while Glenn Whelan and Marc Wilson both started in midfield for Stoke in their defeat at Liverpool. Jon Walters missed a late penalty for the Potters. Shane Long started alongside new signing Nicolas Anelka for WBA, Robbie Brady and David Meyler started for Hull at Chelsea, while Damien Delaney and Owen Garvan started Crystal Palace's defeat at home to Spurs. Darron Gibson, Stephen Quinn and Anthony Pilkington remain injured.

In the East, Aiden McGeady missed Spartak Moscow's game against Rubin Kazan with an injury, while Darren O'Dea was left out by Metalurg Donetsk for their defeat to Illichivets. He has missed their last two games, and doesn't appear to be injured, as he turned out for Ireland in midweek, so t it would appear that the centre-back finds himself worryingly out of favour. Across the pond, Robbie Keane scored a hat-trick as LA Galaxy beat Real Salt Lake. Cillian Sheridan started APOEL's win over Apollon Limassol in Cyprus; Liam Lawrence continues to find himself out of the PAOK squad, despite making 35 appearances last season for the Greek outfit.

In the Championship, a remarkably svelte Andy Reid scored for Forest against Bolton in their 3-0 win, while Keith Treacy scored for Burnley against. promoted Yeovil. Richard Dunne started his first league game for over a year, as QPR beat Mick McCarthy's Ipswich. Stephen Ward completed his loan move to Brighton, where he will play alongside fellow Irish loanee Keith Andrews.

Maith an buachaillí: Westwood possibly turning a corner in his career, Coleman scoring, Garvan finally getting a chance to play in the big leagues. Starting places for twelve Irishmen in the EPL.


Go h-uafásach: Walters' missed penalty at Anfield. His penalty style has never wavered since assuming the spot-kick duties for Stoke - he has invariably gone bottom-left, even for Ireland against Austria. However, it seems that goalkeepers have cottoned on to this, and he will have to start varying his routine.

The August Snooze - Wales vs. Ireland Review

Ireland continued their dismal August record with an uninspiring 0-0 draw in Cardiff on Wednesday night. Since the inception of the maligned pre-season international window in 2001, Ireland have won just three out of twelve games (Finland 2002, Australia 2003, Denmark 2007) in the late summer; with players visibly focused on the start of their club seasons, there tends to be very little to learn from these fixtures. Trapattoni deployed the exciting combination of Hoolahan and Long in the attacking third, in a 4-4-1-1 formation which may indicate that Trapattoni is willing to abandon the policy from the Austria game of playing two out-and-out target men, in favour of a more progressive approach.

The extra man in midfield was evident throughout the first twenty minutes, as Ireland controlled possession. Brady, McCarthy and Hoolahan were predictably to the fore, but the Welsh defenders, led admirably by Ashley Williams, were able to snuff out Ireland's attacks. Brady went close on a couple of occasions, but Long had the best chance of the first half; after a McCarthy pull-back and a clever Hoolahan dummy presented the Tipperary man with a clear chance from nine yards, he inexplicably ballooned high and wide. Ireland conceded a lot of first-half possession to the Welsh, but even with Liverpool's Joe Allen pulling the strings, they could find no way through a well-drilled and notably disciplined Irish side. For all Trap's perceived eccentricities, it must be pointed out that the team is generally very astute and diligent off the ball, which often gets taken for granted.

Clear chances were not forthcoming for either side, until mid-way through the second half, when Long was denied from close-range by Myhill. Hoolahan had some nice touches, but was muscled off the ball too easily on a couple of occasions, and was not as influential as he could have been. Walters put in his usual hard-working shift out wide, but his limitations were obvious, and it would be more interesting to see an Irish team with two out-and-out wide midfielders instead of a shoe-horned striker. The Irish defence was rarely troubled, but Wilson stood out for his use of possession in linking up with Brady and substitute McClean, and O'Shea commanded his area well despite some hoofed and wayward passes early on.

Although Ireland lined up with ten EPL players, the substitutions revealed an unsettling lack of quality in the current Irish squad. O'Dea, Green, Keogh and Sammon added to their caps, with Yeovil striker Paddy Madden coming on for his first cap. The ex-Bohs man was lively, forcing two saves from the Welsh custodian, but the others made little impact. O'Dea, Kelly, McShane, Green, Cox, Keogh and Sammon have now won 165 caps between them without adding a great deal to the squad, nor showing any substantial ceiling for improvement. With these players continuing to keep the likes of Joey O'Brien, Meyler, Quinn and Pilkington down the pecking order, Ireland will be two or three injuries away from serious trouble in the upcoming games.

The game petered out to little consequence, and the talking point among Irish fans was the poor finishing on display, most worryingly from Long. With Keane absent, Ireland definitely lack a cutting edge, even against weaker sides, and the strikers must shoulder the blame. Madden looked lively, but he was notorious for being wasteful in front of goal in the League of Ireland, and though his League 1 form was excellent, it remains to be seen whether he can finish consistently at Championship level. If Madden gets into double figures, he would certainly present a better striking option than many of the misfit forwards in the current Irish squad; Andy Keogh got seven goals, Cox five, and Sammon eight in the English second-tier last season. Leon Best is also an option, but he will have to desist from calling Trapattoni 'pathetic' in public. Anthony Stokes is scoring goals for Celtic, but questions remain about his attitude and suitability for an Irish side devoid of big egos.

With Keane to return for the Sweden game in three weeks, Ireland should pose more of a goal threat, but the sight of Ibrahimovic at the other end will be most disconcerting, considering that he scored a hat trick against Norway on Wednesday. To add to the anxiety, Ireland will be without Sean St. Ledger and, most likely, Richard Dunne, who has not yet started a league game for QPR. However, O'Shea and Clark did little wrong on Wednesday, and they handled the Swedes well in March. Trapattoni's use of a more fluid formation, the improved possession, and the chances Ireland created against Wales offer some encouragement, as the clumsy, direct tactics from the Austria game will not work in games that Ireland really need to win.

Highlights from Wednesday's game can be found here.

English transfer window highlights big challenges for Irish players

The summer transfer window has yielded little for Irish fans to get excited about. The only Irish newcomers to the 'promised land' of the EPL  have come from the promoted clubs, where David Meyler, Paul McShane, Robbie Brady, Owen Garvan, Damien Delaney, Paddy McCarthy and Joe Mason may struggle to make an impression - if they even manage to get a run in their starting XIs. Meanwhile, expected transfers for James McCarthy and Kevin Doyle have not yet materialised - and if both are to remain in situ by September 1, it would represent a frustrating stall in their careers. For Doyle, remaining at Wolves would seriously curtail his already flagging international prospects.

From an Irish point of view, some of the more significant transfers may not even involve Irish players. Stoke's signing of Dutch international Marc Pieters and Barcelona prospect Marc Muniesa will stymie any chance of Marc Wilson playing at left-back this season - a position where he is badly needed for Ireland. Wilson may be moved into his more natural midfield position, but that could have a knock-on effect on Glenn Whelan's game-time. Similarly, Norwich's signing of Leroy Fer and Ricky van Wolfswinkel may impact on Wes Hoolahan's game-time, while Sunderland's signing of the impressive Italian international Emanuele Giaccherini will surely relegate James McClean to the bench. It serves to show the increasing difficulty for Irish players to achieve regular first-team football, in what is increasingly a billionaire's playground.

Added to the malaise, three of Ireland's more talented and high-profile youth players from recent years - Conor Henderson, Derrick Williams and Conor Clifford - have been let go by Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa, respectively. Williams and Clifford have been picked up by Southend and Bristol City, while Henderson remains without a club after a trial period with Ipswich. Additionally, centre-back Sean McGinty was released by Manchester United, with disciplinary problems reportedly being an issue. His signing for Tranmere would appear to be a 'last-chance saloon' for the U-19 defender. This downward trajectory of talent is a disappointing trend, which looks set to continue for young Irish players across the water.

In slightly more positive news, winger Alan Judge moved back to Blackburn after an impressive couple of years at Notts County, while Chris McCann earned a move to Wigan from Burnley. Noel Hunt moved to Leeds from Reading, while forgotten man Daryl Murphy made his loan move permanent at Ipswich. Striker James Collins moved from Swindon to Hibs, where he should be looking to immediately score goals. Darren O'Dea was shipped out of Toronto FC, as they could not afford his wages - but the Dubliner somehow ended up at Metalurg Donetsk, presumably on the back of his performance for Ireland in Moscow a couple of seasons ago. One would imagine that the lifestyle may not be a step up for the centre-back, in the industrial hub of eastern Ukraine - but the league is ranked seventh-best in Europe, so the standard of football will be a bigger challenge than the MLS, and his club will also compete in the Europa league. Other Irish players could do well by following O'Dea's example, and expanding their horizons beyond the comfort of Championship and SPL football, as the EPL is offering fewer and fewer opportunities for Irish players to develop and play regularly.

Defeat, but not embarrassment, as Trapattoni looks towards September

Despite understandable fears of a thrashing, Ireland did well against Spain in Yankee Stadium, keeping the score to a respectable 2-0. As they did in Wembley, Ireland defended well as a unit, and could have snatched a draw in the last ten minutes during a spirited spell of pressure. Shorn of Wilson, O'Shea, Dunne, Clark, McGeady, Whelan, Green, Hoolahan, Walters and Long from the regular starters, Ireland's damage limitation job worked for almost seventy minutes, but the incessant Spanish pressure eventually paid off. Again, McCarthy and Coleman put in good shifts, with St. Ledger and Kelly showing their experience in the backline. O'Dea and McShane made their blocks and held their positions well, but their clumsy distribution from the back was a factor in Ireland having so little relieving possession.

Alongside McCarthy in midfield, the inexperienced Hendrick could offer little aside from graft, but Stephen Quinn looked assured when he came on, and looks like a more credible option for the Autumn. Keogh ran himself ragged, but McClean offered much more direct go-forward ball from the left wing when he came on, and was unlucky not to score. Up front, Cox and Keane were feeding off scraps, but battled hard to pressurise and niggle at Busquets, who was characteristically dramatic about it - until Cox genuinely scythed him down in the second half with a dangerous, studs-up tackle, which incensed the Spanish bench, and may have warranted more than the ensuing yellow card.

Spain will, no doubt, go on to bigger things in the next twelve months, as they head into a relatively straightforward conclusion to their qualifying group which should see them as favourites in Brazil. Ireland, meanwhile, have a destiny-defining week in September. Austria's win over Sweden has balanced the table into, effectively, a three-way mini-league, with no discernible advantage to any one side. Sweden's point in Germany has been undermined by defeat in Vienna, while Austria will be regretting their dropped points in Kazakhstan. Ireland would be comfortably in second place if not for Alaba's equaliser in Dublin, making it all the more galling. It's going to be a tight finish.

Trapattoni's squad looks in slightly better shape and morale for the last few games, with the enthusiastic performances against England and Spain exorcising some of the demons from the humiliations of 2012. Despite the weakness of his opposition, the introduction of Hoolahan into midfield against Georgia and the Faroes looked promising, and the fringe players will have benefited from the last few weeks. Reservations remain, however; Ireland have started with a striker on the wing for each of the last four games, without any of them providing the goal threat which Trapattoni cites as reason for deploying such a bizarre and limiting tactic. Full-back cover remains worrisome, with a huge gap in ball-playing ability between Wilson, Coleman and the next in line. Whelan clearly remains part of Trapattoni's 'Plan A', which bodes ill for Hoolahan's chances of starting in the preferred 4-4-2.

Hoolahan may lack the physical presence of a traditional central midfielder - and is much more at home in the final third - but he worked hard in his two starts, and made some useful interceptions and stand-up tackles, which is more than what Whelan has contributed off the ball lately. There is a need, in the future, for a genuine holding player to complement McCarthy's box-to-box machinations (making Gibson's volitional absence all the more frustrating), but in the absence of a clear option at present, Hoolahan's cultured stylings are preferable to the crude ploddings of Whelan, Green or Andrews.

If Hoolahan is favoured, then Ireland could present a real threat against the fragile Swedes. Quick and accurate ball from midfield would be guaranteed, and if the likes of Brady and Pilkington - injured of late - can force their way into Trapattoni's thinking against Wales in August, Ireland's midfield could be an area of attacking strength. The idea of a Brady/McGeady - Hoolahan - McCarthy - Pilkington midfield feeding Long and Keane up front, with Coleman and Wilson in support, is an appealing prospect, with a wide, varied skillset at this level. However, Trapattoni will have to be bold to abandon his principles, and a betting man would surely predict the more limited Stoke duo of Walters and Whelan returning to the fold to 'stiffen up' the Irish midfield. As ever, though, Trapattoni will keep us guessing, but at least Ireland have real options.

England, Georgia and Faroe Islands - Summary

Ireland can be relatively pleased with their efforts over the last ten days - on paper at least. A spirited 1-1 draw with England restored some pride after the Austrian surrender, and set the tone for straightforward displays against Georgia (4-0) and the Faroe Islands (3-0) at HQ. However, with the games against Austria and Sweden looming in the Autumn, few questions have been answered about Trapattoni's willingness to make the necessary changes to address the problems of the Austrian game, or how competitive Ireland can be in the qualifying run-in. Certainly, familiar problems remain with regard to selection and tactics.

The game in Wembley was notable for the continuing evolution of James McCarthy, Shane Long and Seamus Coleman into international players with genuine quality, and that as a unit, the Irish defence can raise its game against the better international teams. However, familiar weaknesses were evident, in McGeady's wastefulness in possession, Glenn Whelan's continuous slowing-down and misdirection of midfield ball, the lack of depth at left-back, a lack of direction at the attacking set-piece, and Robbie Keane's negligible effect and involvement in a 4-4-2 against better opposition. On the latter point, England could be seen to have the same problems, in having to persist with 4-4-2 to accommodate the top striker, but at least Rooney's natural ability to drop deep and spread the play complemented his team's pace on the wings. Stephen Kelly had a torrid time at left-back, facing Johnson and Walcott, and perhaps should have been more harshly exposed. Still, 1-1 was a fair result against an often-lethargic English team.

The Georgia game was a strange affair, as a 4-0 win put the gloss on what became a glorified kick-around. Of the starting line-up, only McCarthy, Long, Wilson and (in an ideal world) Hoolahan could genuinely hope to start the Autumn games, barring a catastrophic injury crisis. There was very little to be learned from the game, and it was rendered meaningless as a contest after the Georgian goalkeeper was sent off for taking down Long. Hoolahan was given plenty of space and time in midfield to show his array of playmaking skills, and performed with aplomb alongside McCarthy. Keane came off the bench to net a couple of goals, showing the predatory instincts which Long, for all his virtues, does not yet seem to possess.

For the competitive game against the Faroes, it was a repeat of the Hoolahan-Keane show, with the Norwich man pulling the strings in a deep role alongside Whelan, and Keane taking the headlines with a clinical hat-trick, bringing his international tally to 59. In the modern era of European international football, only Miroslav Klose has scored more. However, Ireland's display was mixed against the Islanders. Wilson had a worryingly shaky game in possession, and clearly needs a rest and a good pre-season after an injury-hit spell for Stoke of late. McGeady had an effective game on the left, but the policy of playing strikers on the right wing needs to stop immediately; Cox ploughed a lonely furrow there, as Keogh had done against Georgia.

Overall, Ireland could be happy with the three points and clean sheet against a side which does not often succumb to heavy beatings. The quality of Ireland's passing in midfield was markedly improved with Hoolahan directing things, though the long-ball was again resorted to at times. The latter fact incurred the inevitable wrath of the RTE panel, which has long ceased to provide a useful or enlightening perspective on any Irish game (on Sky, Ray Houghton was berating Ireland for 'over-playing' in midfield - make of that what you will).

Three games, three 4-4-2 lineups. It doesn't exactly fit in with Trapattoni's stated intention to mix things up at the squad announcement in May - nor does it bode well for Hoolahan's chances of getting into the team when McCarthy and Green - and possibly even Andrews - return to the fold. In fact, his club-mate Pilkington probably stands a better chance of getting into the starting XI, if he turns up for the Wales game in August. Though Hoolahan did his job with aplomb, you would have to expect that Trapattoni will need more physicality in the engine-room for the games against Sweden and Austria, which is understandable in a formation containing two front-men and two out-and-out wide players. The problem is that Trapattoni inexplicably sees Whelan as that 'muscle', despite actually offering little in the way of breaking up play, along with his maddeningly slow, indecisive and inaccurate distribution. Could Hoolahan be accommodated in a wide role, with licence to drift infield? That, at present, seems to be his most likely way into the starting XI, but it would be a waste of a player whose central playmaking skills have stood out this week. Unfortunately, it seems like a huge risk to accommodate all of McCarthy, Hoolahan, Keane and Long in the same team for the Autumn.

Given Keane's form in the last week, he certainly will not be the one to miss out, though against better opposition it may (whisper it quietly) be the most tactically astute omission of the four. Keane has not scored from open play against a higher-seeded opponent in his last eight games (Russia x2, Slovakia x2, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Sweden), going back to 2009, and has not looked a genuine goal threat on any of those occasions. A smart manager would surely adopt the 'horses for courses' approach, and get an extra ball-player in the midfield for the big games, at the expense of a pure finisher who, regardless of his penalty-box cunning in games when Ireland are comfortably on top, has been a tactical hindrance to Ireland in tougher games. It may seem harsh on a player whose achievements have been rightly commended this week, but if Ireland were selecting a lone striker against Sweden, surely Long would be the better option. Keane has never been at ease playing a lone role, and lacks the physicality to hold the ball up on the front-line and bring the midfield into play.

Anyway, on to Spain in New York. Looking at the Irish squad, it's a patchwork job, with thirteen players absent from the full-strength panel. A record defeat could be on the cards if Spain get a head of steam, given the frightening strength of their squad - but regardless, it is a chance for some Irish players to forge a reputation, if Ireland can manage to offer some resistance. However, with a squad mostly composed of second-tier players, it looks like a thankless task for Ireland on Tuesday night.

Squad for England, Georgia, Faroe Islands and Spain games

Giovanni Trapattoni has named a provisional squad of twenty-eight players for the upcoming summer fixtures. Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace), Richard Keogh (Derby), David Meyler (Hull) and Anthony Pilkington (Norwich) are called up, having been omitted for the qualifying double-header in March. Aiden McGeady returns after injury, but Ciaran Clark and Kevin Doyle need surgery, and are not considered. Richard Dunne is back in light training for Aston Villa, but despite being offered the chance to train with the squad, his manager at Aston Villa is not keen, and the centre-back will remain at Villa. Joey O'Brien can feel slightly aggrieved at his omission, after a steady season in the EPL for West Ham.

While announcing the squad, Trapattoni paid lip service to a change in tactics, indicating that Pilkington's goalscoring ability from the wing would be crucial to the effectiveness of a five-man midfield. This willingness to change has been a repeated promise since the European Championships, but despite brief, unconvincing flirtations with a more flexible gameplan, Trapattoni has generally reverted to the 'Plan A' of 4-4-2. To the manager's credit, the likes of Wilson, Coleman, Clark, McCarthy, Long and Brady have come into the side as starters in the last ten months, with Meyler, Hoolahan, Hendrick and Pilkington adding further options. However, Trapattoni's various selectional, positional and tactical oddities have kept the transition from going fully to plan. There is no rationale for playing Simon Cox on the wing, or Fahey as a midfield man-marker, or for Conor Sammon to be anywhere near the starting eleven. The reasons for Ireland's second-half meltdown against Austria were frustratingly obvious and avoidable, as the players were visibly shattered from playing to such an attrition-based gameplan. For a manager who stresses 'the little details', who carries the lofty reputation and expectation which comes from winning twenty-one major trophies in four leagues, such decisions are quite baffling - and far removed from the common-sense that Trapattoni initially brought to the job in 2008.

In the one truly meaningful game this summer, the Faroe Islands should not pose many problems for Ireland, even if McCarthy and Long are suspended. However, fans should not expect an entertaining evening or an avalanche of goals, as the direct approach will surely drag Ireland down to the visitor's level. Lest we forget, it took Ireland forty-six minutes to break the deadlock in Torshavn. However, if Trapattoni's willingness to experiment actually holds true, and we see some more constructive football against England, with Hoolahan and Pilkington to the fore, it could set a more positive tone for the competitive games ahead. Likewise, if 4-4-2 and hoofball are deployed for Wembley, a harrowing, dispiriting evening could be in prospect, which would not help the public mood ahead of the qualifying run-in. There, rather than in nineteenth-century nationalist bluster, lies the importance of the England game.

Ireland squad for England (a), Georgia (h), Faroe Islands (h) and Spain (n):

Goalkeepers: David Forde (Millwall), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland), Darren Randolph (Motherwell) 
Defenders: John O’Shea (Sunderland), Sean St Ledger (Leicester), Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace), Richard Keogh (Derby), Marc Wilson (Stoke), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Stephen Kelly (Reading), Darren O’Dea (Toronto), Paul McShane (Hull)
Midfielders: Glenn Whelan (Stoke), James McCarthy (Wigan), Paul Green (Leeds), Jeff Hendrick (Derby), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Anthony Pilkington (Norwich), James McClean (Sunderland), Robbie Brady, David Meyler (both Hull), 
Forwards: Andy Keogh (Millwall), Robbie Keane (Los Angeles Galaxy), Shane Long (West Brom), Conor Sammon (Derby), Jon Walters (Stoke), Simon Cox (Nottingham Forest), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich).

A Near Miss: Ireland's Euro 2000 Campaign

After painfully missing out on the 1998 World Cup, Mick McCarthy was charged with leading an Irish team with an interesting mix of youth and experience to the European Championships in Holland and Belgium. Some commentators insisted that he was fortunate to keep his job, given the oft-times bizarre formations and team selections in the previous campaign, but the encouraging performance against Belgium in Brussels - and the progressive introduction of a passing game - assured the FAI that the team was heading in the right direction. The Irish side was still in transition, with the likes of Houghton, Townsend, Coyne, Phelan and David Kelly playing their last competitive games in the Belgian playoff, with others such as Cascarino and McLoughlin firmly in the veteran stage.

McCarthy's new caps since taking the job had been a mixed bunch - while Given, Cunningham, Breen, Harte, Carsley and Connolly had contributed enough to be kept in the fold, players like Gareth Farrelly, Alan Moore and the injury-ravaged Keith O'Neill had not pushed on from eye-catching performances in the early days. The core of the team, with Irwin, Staunton, Gary Kelly, Keane and Quinn, boasted plenty of experience and quality, but the Liverpool trio of Babb, Kennedy and McAteer were approaching make-or-break points in their top-level careers, and had a lot to prove in a green shirt. The team certainly needed more fresh blood, and on that front, there was some cause for optimism. Two promising teenagers - Wolves striker Robbie Keane, and Blackburn winger Damien Duff - were playing important roles for their clubs, and attracting a good deal of hype from the Irish sports media.

McCarthy used a 'B' international against Northern Ireland to blood Keane and Duff, alongside a host of other hopefuls, including future stalwarts Steve Finnan and Richard Dunne. Despite a 1-0 defeat, Duff and Keane kept their place in the squad for the first full international of the year against the Czech Republic, while Mark Kinsella, Graham Kavanagh, Rory Delap, Gareth Farrelly and Alan Maybury also impressed sufficiently to take their place on the flight to Olomouc. All played a part in the 2-1 defeat to the Czechs, as an Irish team with an average age of 22 put in a promising display. A more high-profile game against Argentina followed in April, where Ireland put in a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance. Utterly dominated in the first half, and lucky to be only 2-0 down, Ireland took the initiative in the second half, and though the scoreline remained the same, chances were created and reputations enhanced, notably those of Kinsella, Carsley and Man-of-the-Match Robbie Keane, who was desperately unlucky not to score with a mazy run and shot. On the other hand, the frail performances of centre-backs Breen and Babb were a concern, showing the importance of the more dominant Cunningham to the Irish defence, and highlighting the need for a genuine ball-winning defender in the McGrath/Moran/McCarthy mould.

Keane again shone in a low-key 0-0 draw with Mexico, but less encouraging was the performance of his partner, David Connolly, who had endured a frustrating time since being sent off in Brussels. His Feyenoord odyssey was not going well, and in time he would be demoted to their feeder side, Exelsior. Despite being earmarked as a future star for Ireland, with a good goal ratio for such a young player, it seemed inevitable that the younger Keane would take his place, and that the two were just too similar to forge an effective partnership.

Keane, meanwhile, had a busy summer ahead - he was part of the Irish side competing in the UEFA Youth Championships in Cyprus. Captained by Coventry's Barry Quinn, boasting other future internationals such as Richard Dunne, Gary Doherty, Stephen McPhail and Alan Quinn, Ireland took home the trophy, beating Germany on penalties in the final. This followed on the heels of success in the U-16 equivalent, with Ireland becoming the first nation to win both trophies in the same year. It pointed to promising times ahead, but optimism was tempered by the ominous performances of group rivals Croatia and Yugoslavia in the World Cup. Croatia reached the semi-finals, where they were unfortunate to lose to the eventual champions, and McCarthy could only hope for a World Cup hangover when Miroslav Blazevic's side visited in September.

The first game of the campaign marked the return, and first start as full-time captain, for Roy Keane. Through injury and self-inflicted absences, the aggressive midfielder had not enjoyed a sustained, impressive run in an Irish team since USA '94. This seemed in stark contrast to his commanding displays for Manchester United, which was a source of grumbling in sections of the Irish support. However, at the age of 27, Keane was approaching his peak, and ready to put his indelible mark on the Irish team. There were also starts for Robbie Keane, Duff and Kinsella, with returns for Cunningham, Irwin, Staunton, McAteer and O'Neill. Croatia were without Suker and Bilic, two of their World Cup stars, but still sent a hugely talented side to Dublin, including eight of their starters from the World Cup semi-final.

Ireland tore into the Croats from the start, with Irwin winning and converting an early penalty. The luckless O'Neill was forced off after eight minutes with yet another injury, but Ireland were two ahead after the quarter-hour, with Keane heading home after a McAteer shot deflected and looped into the goalmouth. Robbie Keane went close in the second half, as his elder namesake controlled midfield, dominating Boban and frustrating the flow of the Croats, who had two men sent off late on as a Cunningham-inspired defence contained the Croatian forwards. A 2-0 win was a triumph for McCarthy, and an emphatic vindication of his team-building process over the previous two years.

A 5-0 win over Malta followed, with Robbie Keane getting his first two international goals and Niall Quinn making a welcome return with a close-range strike. Roy Keane and Breen added the extras, but events in Kosovo would henceforth disrupt the schedule of Group Eight. Ireland's game in Yugoslavia was put back a month due to NATO bombing in the region, and there were murmurings of possible expulsion for the Yugoslavs, which had precedent in their dismissal from Euro '92 during the Bosnia conflict.

Despite the unstable situation, conditions in Belgrade were deemed safe enough for Ireland to play there in November. McCarthy, eager to combat the threat of such a technical side, reverted to a 4-5-1 formation with Quinn alone up front. Roy Keane turned in one of his finest performances in an Irish shirt, as Ireland kept the crowd quiet for long periods, and had two legitimate penalty appeals turned down. However, on sixty-four minutes, a moment of maddening indecision from Breen and Staunton allowed the ball to fall at Mijatovic's feet, and the Real Madrid striker slotted home. Ireland fought bravely, but could not find the equaliser that their performance deserved. However, Ireland were still well-placed, and would surely be in contention to qualify if the elevated levels of ball retention and organisation could be maintained. However, momentum was lost somewhat, as the Kosovo conflict escalated through the following year, forcing the cancellation of several fixtures, including the trip to Macedonia, scheduled for March. Ireland would not play competitively for another six months, and were potentially facing the prospect of a fixture backlog at the end of the campaign.

Ireland had a few friendlies scheduled to keep things ticking over, and games against Paraguay (2-0), Sweden (2-0) and Northern Ireland (0-1) were used to test some of the fringe players, of whom Kevin Kilbane and debutant Stephen Carr impressed. Both would become fixtures in the squad thereafter, with Kilbane getting a move from Preston to Sunderland, and Carr cementing his place as Spurs' first-choice right-back. In April, Ireland's Under-20 side competed in the World Youth Cup in Nigeria, as European Champions. A panel containing Keane, Duff, Doherty, McPhail, Barry Quinn, Colin Healy and Richard Sadlier was tipped to be competitive, but Ireland were eliminated in the last sixteen by the host nation, on penalties.

Ireland's home tie with Yugoslavia was pencilled in for June, but with Belgrade under intense bombing from NATO forces, and the Milosevic regime continuing a policy of genocide against Kosovar Albanians, the FAI said that if they were to play, it would be 'under severe protest', with McCarthy stating that it would be 'morally wrong' to play the game. The Department of Foreign Affairs then took the step of refusing visas to the Yugoslav team, forcing the game to be abandoned only days beforehand. Fears were raised that UEFA could punish Ireland for not fulfilling the fixture by a points deduction, or replaying the game at a neutral venue - but since the Irish government had taken the final decision, the FAI was off the hook.

Stephen Carr made his first competitive start in the game against Macedonia in June, but Roy Keane was injured, and a lethargic Ireland struggled to make headway against the Balkan side. It took a scrappy goal from Quinn to settle the affair, and although McCarthy pointed to fatigue after a long, hard season, the performance highlighted how Ireland could potentially struggle without their captain. Carsley and Kinsella were able sidekicks and decent mid-table Premiership players, but neither could genuinely, consistently command a midfield at international level. With Keane out, it seemed like a blessing that Ireland did not face the Yugoslavs that week.

During the summer, the Irish youths maintained their impressive record under Brian Kerr, finishing third in the UEFA U-18 Championships, beating Spain 1-0 en route. In transfer news, Robbie Keane became the most expensive teenager in the Premiership with a 6 million pound move to Coventry, while one of Kerr's other title-winning graduates of 1998, winger Ronnie O'Brien, raised a few eyebrows with a Bosman transfer to Juventus. Mark Kennedy moved to Manchester City in an attempt to salvage a flagging career which had stalled even further since leaving Liverpool for Wimbledon, while Keith O'Neill moved up a division to Middlesbrough.

The rearranged game with Yugoslavia was the first of a triple-header for the Irish team, with away games in Zagreb and Valletta to come. McCarthy's decisions on the starting line-up received some murmurings of disapproval. Steve Staunton had been under pressure since the game in Belgrade, with doubts lingering about his lack of pace and general ring-rustiness from being in and out of the Liverpool team. Despite Irwin's versatility giving other full-back options of Carr, Gary Kelly and Harte, Staunton was given the nod to start at left-back. Kilbane also started, with Duff omitted for Kennedy on the right wing. After a fraught first half, Ireland took the lead through a clinical Robbie Keane finish in the 56th minute. However, Staunton was caught out by a superb Mijatovic ball for Stankovic to equalise soon afterwards,  which was somewhat unfortunate, as the Dundalk man had been silencing his critics up until then. Soon after, with just over twenty minutes to go, Kennedy picked the ball up in midfield, cut inside, and unleashed a vicious shot which flew in off the underside of the bar. It was one of the most dramatic and memorable moments in the history of the old Lansdowne Road, and a fitting decider to a high-quality game of football. Ireland sat on top of the group with three games to go.

Preparations for the trip to Croatia were complicated by injuries to Irwin and the two Keanes, all of whom had been instrumental in the group thus far. With an eye on guaranteeing the three points against Malta, McCarthy made six changes, restoring Duff to the left and bringing in Gary Kelly on the right of midfield, with Carsley and McLoughlin coming into midfield to accompany the increasingly impressive Kinsella. The lone striker would be 37-year-old Tony Cascarino, rather than Quinn - a decision which astounded Irish fans and media alike. With no designated advanced midfielder in the centre and a static lone striker, Ireland would have very little to offer in possession, and the game was a predictable rearguard operation from the start. The game remained goalless into the dying moments through a combination of poor finishing, the resilience of Cunningham, and the heroics of goalkeeper Alan Kelly. However, disaster struck in the third of the allotted five stoppage-time minutes, as the exhausted Irish centre-backs misjudged a direct ball into the box, which found its way to Suker. The Arsenal centre-forward stabbed home, leaving McCarthy to face the music from an irate press. Again, his bizarre decisions had cost Ireland, and though a playoff place would be guaranteed with two wins in Malta and Macedonia, automatic qualification was dependent on other results. In the mixed zone, the injured Zvonimir Boban poured scorn on Ireland's negative performance by stating that even lowly Malta had shown more ambition during their 3-2 defeat in Zagreb.

A bedraggled Ireland reverted to 4-4-2 for the Malta game, with fit-again Robbie Keane and Quinn starting up front and Kennedy and Kilbane restored to the flanks. Ireland raced into a 2-0 lead, with Keane and Breen finding the Maltese net, but after half-time, Ireland's performance, whether through fatigue, complacency, or both, deteriorated badly, allowing the Maltese to claw their way back into the game. First, Alan Kelly was caught off his line by a measured lob from Said. Soon after, Cunningham conceded a penalty which Carrabott converted. Staunton stepped up to restore the lead with an outstanding free-kick, but the 3-2 win was only preserved by a late fingertip save from Kelly and a goal-line clearance from Staunton. After doing the hard work in beating Yugoslavia and Croatia at home, Ireland were stumbling towards the finish line. There seemed to be a marked decline in performance when Roy Keane was absent, and worryingly, he would also be sidelined for the final group game in Skopje, where Ireland had lost in 1997.

Ireland were otherwise at full strength for the return to the Balkans in October, and took the lead through a scrappy goal from Quinn, who poked home after falling over during a goalmouth melée. It typified the first half - although Ireland were never threatened at the back, it was a nervous, clumsy effort from the Irish team, with Kinsella and McLoughlin struggling to dictate the tempo. As the second half wore on, Ireland sat back, content to hold on to the lead. McCarthy bolstered the midfield with new cap Matt Holland and Keith O'Neill coming on for Kennedy and Keane. The containment effort was working until Kelly was forced to tip Stojanovski's shot around the post for a corner. What happened next will live in the dark recesses of the soul of every watching Irish fan. The referee signalled to the Irish players that the corner would be the last play of the game. The outswinging ball was delivered, Keith O'Neill fell over in the box after colliding with Cascarino, and his designated man - right back Goran Stavrevski of NK Zagreb - met the cross with a bullet header to consign Ireland to two dropped points. Meanwhile, Yugoslavia and Croatia had played out a 2-2 draw in Zagreb, meaning that Yugoslavia topped the group, and Ireland had the reprieve of the playoffs. Had Ireland held out in Skopje, they would be going through as group winners.

'Twice in a month is not good for the health,' McCarthy said afterwards. 'We're devastated that we're in the play-offs. Finishing ahead of Croatia, in reality, is a great achievement, but this morning it's cold comfort because we should have won that group. But you only get there if you win football matches. You get what you deserve.'

The following week, Ireland were drawn with Turkey in the playoffs. With Israel, Scotland and Slovenia also in the mix, the draw could certainly have been kinder, as Turkish football was on an upward curve - Galatasaray would win that season's UEFA Cup, and the national team had taken four points from Germany in their group. The second leg would be played in Bursa, which complicated the Irish travelling arrangements. On the upside, Roy Keane would be back, and Ireland named a strong, physical side with Carsley replacing the suspended Kinsella. The in-form Rory Delap, who had scored recently for Derby against Arsenal and Chelsea, was picked on the right-hand-side of midfield, while there were returns for Carr and Kilbane. Unfortunately, with minutes to go before kick-off, Quinn was forced to withdraw with a back injury, meaning that Tony Cascarino would partner Keane up front, a decision which elicited groans of dismay from the Lansdowne Road crowd upon its announcement.

Ireland started brightly and forced some good saves from Rustu in the Turkish goal, in particular from Kilbane and Cascarino, but the Turks, insipired by Sergen Yalcin, began to get a grip on the game, and proceeded to dominate possession well into the second half. Ireland's methods became more direct, but Alpay Ozalan was proving an insurmountable obstacle in the Turkish defence. Against the run of play, Ireland took the lead with ten minutes to go. Irwin broke up play in midfield and fed it through for substitute Connolly. The forgotten striker squared for Robbie Keane, who controlled and fired home. However, once again Ireland failed to make the most of a promising position, and surrendered the lead. There was an element of misfortune in the awarding of Turkey's penalty, as Carsley accidentally brushed the ball with his arm after an attempted block. Subsititute goalkeeper Dean Kiely could not reach Tayfur's penalty, and like the home leg against Belgium two years previously, it finished 1-1. Ireland would have to score in Turkey, and do so without Robbie Keane, who was unnecessarily booked for dissent soon after the equaliser.

Quinn recovered sufficiently to take his place up front alongside Connolly in Bursa, with Kinsella restored to the engine-room. Due to failed negotiations over television rights, the game was not broadcast in Ireland, except in various bars that could adjust their satellite dishes to pick up Turkish signals. Turkey had the better of the game, with Kiely having to make a number of saves. Quinn did not have the same chemistry with Connolly as he had enjoyed with Keane throughout the campaign, and Ireland could not force any clear-cut chances. Sukur hit the bar with a close range header in the second half, but that was the closest either side came to breaking the stalemate. It finished 0-0, and there was a brief brawl between Irish and Turkish players at the final whistle, with Cascarino and Ogun trading punches. Turkey had been the better side over two legs, and Ireland could have little complaint about the result - qualification for the tournament had been lost in Skopje.

Amidst the chaos, McCarthy was offered a new two-year deal by the FAI, taking him to the end of the 2002 World Cup campaign. While the victories against Yugoslavia and Croatia had been among the most impressive Irish victories of the decade, and a far cry from the disjointed efforts of the previous campaign, questions remained about McCarthy's decision-making at crucial periods, and his stubborn loyalty to certain players. The unnecessary changes against Croatia were particularly baffling. The slipshod organisation of the side against Malta and Macedonia suggested that McCarthy's grip on the team was not as solid as he would have liked, and considering the heroics of Cunningham, Irwin, Roy Keane and Robbie Keane, it seemed like Ireland owed more at times to individual players than the management. Ireland's worst performances - against Croatia away, Malta away, and both games against Macedonia - came in Roy Keane's absence, and debate would rumble on about Ireland's ability to compete without their most high-profile player.

Considering how much of an impression Damien Duff would make in subsequent campaigns, it seems curious that he only started five of Ireland's ten matches, and was not considered as a striking option when McCarthy was forced to desperately turn to the 37-year-old Cascarino. Ireland had played some good football in the campaign, but reverted to more direct tactics in the final games, notably the first leg of the playoff, when a more subtle approach could have reaped reward. A quick, skilful attacker would certainly have given Alpay a more disconcerting time than an immobile, lumbering veteran. Using Duff against Croatia in a more central role could also have offered Ireland a more attacking midfield threat within the defensive 4-5-1 formation. Unfortunately, it would take McCarthy another year-and-a-half to figure out how to use the Blackburn man to best effect - it seemed that Duff was simply under instruction to hug the touchline and put in crosses, when there was so much more to his game.

Cascarino was just one player who benefited from McCarthy's faith. Kennedy, Staunton, Kibane, Carsley, McLoughlin, Connolly and Breen also shipped criticism at various times, with arguably more talented alternatives being ignored. Though Staunton and Kennedy scored spectacular winners against Malta and Yugoslavia, those moments of magic were against the run of their mediocre general play. Staunton's errors cost Ireland a couple of goals over the camapign, while Kennedy was generally ineffective on both wings. The 1999/2000 season saw an impressive number of Irish players - including many of Brian Kerr's graduates - playing Premiership football, and McCarthy had plenty of alternatives to misfiring regulars. There was no end of ammunition for the Irish media to champion their 'flavours of the month', even though many of these players  were, in truth, flattering to deceive - examples being Michael Reddy, Jason Gavin and Barry Quinn. Some columnists even criticised McCarthy for not picking 20-year-old Leeds playmaker Stephen McPhail against Turkey, ahead of the more experienced, abrasive, and less technical Carsley. However, for all his critics, McCarthy had brought through a number of young players during the campaign - Robbie Keane, Duff, Kilbane and Carr would go on to have long, distinguished Irish careers, and Kinsella stepped up to fill the void vacated by Townsend. Matt Holland and Dean Kiely would also prove, in time, to be very useful additions to the squad.

Despite the controversy, the decision to keep McCarthy turned out to be a good one, but with so many players in or around their best form that season - Carr, Irwin, Cunningham, Harte, Gary Kelly, Kinsella, Roy Keane, Kilbane, Robbie Keane and Quinn - the Euro 2000 campaign was, without doubt, an opportunity missed. Though McCarthy made some vital errors of judgement, perhaps the wider squad was just not strong enough at that stage to sustain injuries to vital players, and as much as McCarthy's critics would pour scorn on the concept, luck certainly deserted Ireland at various times. The Croatia and Yugoslavia victories were a promising sign of what could happen when McCarthy's men were at full strength, but that level of performance would have to be repeated if McCarthy's contract renewal was to be justified.