REAPING THE REWARDS
The changing of the guard brought the Republic of Ireland their best year yet under Mick McCarthy
Orla Bannon finds the Irish manager satisfied with the performances of '98 but still rueing that defensive error in Belgrade...
Reaping the rewards
'Youth policy' is finally bearing fruit for McCarthy
MICK McCarthy thinks long and hard before answering.
Since becoming Republic of Ireland manager almost three years ago, his tactfulness has hardly improved but he has learned to mask it better.
"I'm not daft, you know.
"I know results are everything so in terms of results, this has been the most productive year since I've been in charge.
"It's up to other people to decide whether we've had a good year or not. All I know is we've had two good results and three good performances."
The venom in the last remark, a clear reference to the Republic's last game of the year against Yugoslavia in Belgrade, fails to hide McCarthy's annoyance at the 1-0 defeat which was the only blemish on an accomplished start to qualifying for Euro 2000.
"It was a crucial result for them because like us they have to win their home games.
"We made one mistake and paid for it against one of the best strikers in the world (Mijatovic). It would have been a bonus for us to have got anything out of it."
The highlight of the soccer calendar - France '98 passed the Republic by, a disappointment which was confirmed after the two-legged play-off with Belgium in November '97.
Instead of preparing for a World Cup, Ireland's springtime involved a series of uninspiring friendlies against the Czech Republic (losing 2-1), Argentina (losing 2-0) and a scoreless draw against Mexico at Lansdowne Road.
Since then, McCarthy's osmosis-like operation of easing out the older generation and blooding in the new has finally had some effect
It was a process he started almost immediately after inheriting an ageing squad from Jack Charlton in the spring of '96, but it has only been in the Euro 2000 campaign that it has begun to pay off. The inexperience of players like Mark Kinsella, Robbie Keane and Darnien Duff which had seemed so glaring has begun slowly to disintegrate.
"It's nice to see the fruits of your labour at last. We've hard a good start but the next game in Macedonia will be crucial. We've been there before and lost 3-2 during the World Cup qualifiers which was disappointing but our last few matches will have increased the expectation on us.
"I think whichever teams can go there and win and take full points off Macedonia will qualify."
Several friendlies have been arranged for 1999 peppered in amongst the remaining qualifying fixtures.
The first is at home to Paraguay on February 10 before the critical European trip to Macedonia on March 27.
Next up are Sweden at home on April 28 followed by a three-day training camp in Brittany starting on May 25. The squad return home just in time to play Northern Ireland in a charity game with all proceeds going to the Omagh Appeal Fund.
The summer break may be interrupted for a match away to Poland, which is as yet only provisionally booked. Another away has also been provisionally booked for October in Denmark.
Republic's remaining Euro 2000 fixtures: Macedonia (A) Match 27, Yugoslavia (H) June 5. Croatia (A) September 4, Malta (A) September 8, Macedonia (H) October 10.
Orla Bannon finds the Irish manager satisfied with the performances of '98 but still rueing that defensive error in Belgrade...
Reaping the rewards
'Youth policy' is finally bearing fruit for McCarthy
MICK McCarthy thinks long and hard before answering.
Since becoming Republic of Ireland manager almost three years ago, his tactfulness has hardly improved but he has learned to mask it better.
"I'm not daft, you know.
"I know results are everything so in terms of results, this has been the most productive year since I've been in charge.
"It's up to other people to decide whether we've had a good year or not. All I know is we've had two good results and three good performances."
The venom in the last remark, a clear reference to the Republic's last game of the year against Yugoslavia in Belgrade, fails to hide McCarthy's annoyance at the 1-0 defeat which was the only blemish on an accomplished start to qualifying for Euro 2000.
"It was a crucial result for them because like us they have to win their home games.
"We made one mistake and paid for it against one of the best strikers in the world (Mijatovic). It would have been a bonus for us to have got anything out of it."
The highlight of the soccer calendar - France '98 passed the Republic by, a disappointment which was confirmed after the two-legged play-off with Belgium in November '97.
Instead of preparing for a World Cup, Ireland's springtime involved a series of uninspiring friendlies against the Czech Republic (losing 2-1), Argentina (losing 2-0) and a scoreless draw against Mexico at Lansdowne Road.
Since then, McCarthy's osmosis-like operation of easing out the older generation and blooding in the new has finally had some effect
It was a process he started almost immediately after inheriting an ageing squad from Jack Charlton in the spring of '96, but it has only been in the Euro 2000 campaign that it has begun to pay off. The inexperience of players like Mark Kinsella, Robbie Keane and Darnien Duff which had seemed so glaring has begun slowly to disintegrate.
"It's nice to see the fruits of your labour at last. We've hard a good start but the next game in Macedonia will be crucial. We've been there before and lost 3-2 during the World Cup qualifiers which was disappointing but our last few matches will have increased the expectation on us.
"I think whichever teams can go there and win and take full points off Macedonia will qualify."
Several friendlies have been arranged for 1999 peppered in amongst the remaining qualifying fixtures.
The first is at home to Paraguay on February 10 before the critical European trip to Macedonia on March 27.
Next up are Sweden at home on April 28 followed by a three-day training camp in Brittany starting on May 25. The squad return home just in time to play Northern Ireland in a charity game with all proceeds going to the Omagh Appeal Fund.
The summer break may be interrupted for a match away to Poland, which is as yet only provisionally booked. Another away has also been provisionally booked for October in Denmark.
Republic's remaining Euro 2000 fixtures: Macedonia (A) Match 27, Yugoslavia (H) June 5. Croatia (A) September 4, Malta (A) September 8, Macedonia (H) October 10.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0492
Published Date: 23-Dec-98
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