Soccer Scene

Preview: Germany - Republic of Ireland
World Cup Finals
05.06.2002 at 12:30 - Kashima Stadium,Ibraki

The historic significance of a game against Germany in the World Cup finals was not lost on manager Mick McCarthy when he reflected yesterday on Ireland’s preparations for a Group E clash that is likely to decide our fate in the competiGermany, three times world champions, go into the game with the type of reputation, the tradition, that can only be matched by the best: by Brazil, by Italy and by Argentina.

“The Germans are very well-organised, they’ve got big, powerful players, they’ve got that aura about being Germany, playing in the WC finals,” said McCarthy.

“But the question we have to ask is: Who are you playing. Are you playing the German national team that’s won it three times or are you playing 11 German players on the pitch? A big difference in my mind.”

He explained: “Some of the lads will tell you teams go to Highbury, Anfield, Old Trafford and they find it different.

“They might not be great teams but they are playing the club, they are playing this name and I think we’ve had a reverse effect on it at times. When we’ve turned up people look at us and think we’re only playing Ireland, not a big nation, not got a great history in world football and then they get their arses kicked for taking us lightly.

“It’s happened on a number of occasions. I don’t suspect the German team will treat us lightly.”

McCarthy was at his pugnacious best yesterday on the eve of the biggest match of his six years term as manager. A positive result against Germany, and anything short of a defeat must be viewed as positive, and Ireland will have a superb chance of advancing to the knock-out stages and, perhaps, a match in Korea against Spain.

He spoke of the legacy of good feeling and of confidence within the Irish camp after the stirring come-back from being one goal down against Cameroon: “I think Cameroon have got something the Germans don’t have.

“There are one or two more players with a little bit of trickery and a little bit of flair than perhaps the Germans have but the Germans are perhaps better organised, possibly physically stronger.”

“We hope we can compete with Germany. A lot has been talked about our team spirit, our togetherness and the way we work for each other but we’ve got very good players as well,” he said.

“You don’t compete over the period that we’ve competed just with team spirit, chasing around and closing people down, You need the ability to keep the ball, pass it and create chances, we’ve done that.”

He said the Irish supporters played a major role in Niigata and he looked forward again to a repeat performance from them.

“It is a huge help when you walk out there to see the support. We walked out nearly two hours before the game against Cameroon not knowing what kind of support was going to be there and then seeing almost one quarter of the stadium was full of Irish supporters. It helps, of course, it does.”

He turned Irish optimism on full when he was asked to explain how he would feel if Ireland drew the game and said: “We can beat them.

“I’m bullet-proof because nothing the people say is going to bother me anymore. There is a slant where people are saying if we get something then we can go to the last game and qualify there.

“But why aren’t people saying if you win you’ve got four points? You’d really expect to beat Saudi Arabia who were beaten 8-0 and then hey, seven points, we’re through and we’ve won the group. That’s a great feeling rather than me saying if we don’t get anything, we can still get something against the Saudis if you don’t get three points against Germany?”

He admitted, however, that a draw would be entirely acceptable. “I’d take not being beaten again, absolutely. The Germans have had a great result.

“We have, under different circumstances, a different game against a team who I believe are as strong in different areas as are Germany.”

Former Ireland international Andy Townsend explains why the Republic of Ireland must not fear Germany in their World Cup match today.Moments before the Irish players returned for the second half of Saturday’s World Cup opener against Cameroon, Mick McCarthy scrawled ‘No regrets’ on the team tactics board.

Today in Ibaraki, he should send his players out to face the Germans with another terse message - ‘No fear’.

The consequence of Germany’s tonking of Saudi Arabia has taken a few days to sink in, but one fact is fairly evident - a draw today will hardly suffice for Mick McCarthy’s men if they hope to advance to the second phase.

In truth, we are not equipped to score the hatful of goals against the Saudis that will probably be deemed necessary by the close of play tomorrow - Cameroon having whipped the Saudis.

Nor should a draw be the height of our ambition. Ireland have the wherewithal to defeat a nation that has plenty of heritage but little by way of present form.

Too many of the Irish side were unnerved by the occasion in Niigata. It took the sanctity of the half time dressing room to refocus. There can be no such hesitancy today. This is a day for the old Irish trait of scalp-taking, and there is nothing in an opposition jersey that should make Ireland feel inferior.

I have good cause to reiterate the point - I have a suspicion that our lads may subconsciously play safe knowing that a point will, at the very least, keep Ireland theoretically in the shake up going into the final series of games.

That, of course, would be folly. The Irish have only one thing to fear - and that’s fear itself.

Damien Duff and Robbie Keane may prosper from the three man defence employed by Rudi Voller. But what is essential is that Kinsella and Holland dovetail as impressively as they did last Saturday. They must appreciate (before it is too late) that a draw against the Germans would be considerably less impressive than the point they deserved against the African champions.

Gary Breen’s fitness is a concern, and if so, then he should not start. The Germans will attempt to force their way (via Ballack) through the heart of the Irish back four. To ensure we maintain a solid core, it may be necessary for the full backs (presumably Kelly and Harte) to tuck in and assist their central defenders. Whatever about the Germans going around us, it will be criminal to allow them go through the Irish rearguard.

A look at the German’s possible starting IX suggests that Ballack apart, the creativity will come from Bernd Schneider, thus underlining the important role of Ian Harte at left back.

There has been a lot of discussion regarding Steve Finnan’s possible inclusion. Knowing Mick McCarthy, he is not given to hasty changes, and if Jason McAteer is fit to start, then expect Gary Kelly to retain his starting position at No 2 to the exclusion of the Fulham defender.

What was underplayed but nonetheless important about Ireland’s fightback last Saturday was the seed of doubt it may sow in German minds - ‘these guys are as strong at the finish as at the start...they won’t lie down and die’.



History


H / A / N Matches W D L Goals + / -
H 9 4 2 3 15 - 18 -3
A 10 2 2 6 8 - 16 -8
N 1 0 1 0 1 - 1 +0
Total 20 6 5 9 24 - 35 -11


Date&time Comp. H / A / N Final score
08.10.2015 at 20:45 European Cup Qualifier H 1 - 0
14.10.2014 at 20:45 European Cup Qualifier A 1 - 1
11.10.2013 at 19:45 World Cup Qualifier A 0 - 3
12.10.2012 at 15:00 World Cup Qualifier H 1 - 6
13.10.2007 at 19:45 European Cup Qualifier H 0 - 0
02.09.2006 at 20:45 European Cup Qualifier A 0 - 1
05.06.2002 at 12:30 World Cup Finals N 1 - 1
29.05.1994 at 00:00 Friendly A 2 - 0
06.09.1989 at 17:30 Friendly H 1 - 1
22.05.1979 at 00:00 Friendly H 1 - 3
09.05.1970 at 00:00 Friendly A 1 - 2
04.05.1966 at 20:00 Friendly H 0 - 4
11.05.1960 at 00:00 Friendly A 1 - 0
25.11.1956 at 00:00 Friendly H 3 - 0
28.05.1955 at 00:00 Friendly A 1 - 2
04.05.1952 at 15:00 Friendly A 0 - 3
17.10.1951 at 16:30 Friendly H 3 - 2
23.05.1939 at 00:00 Friendly A 1 - 1
17.10.1936 at 15:00 Friendly H 5 - 2
08.05.1935 at 18:00 Friendly A 1 - 3
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