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Scouting
Report
Style of play: The Republic of Ireland employs
a traditional 4-4-2 starting formation. Coach Mick McCarthy
stresses defensive unity, and his four defenders rarely
move forward in attack. When they do, the midfielders
on the flanks cover for them while the central midfielders
drop back to mark opposing forwards. Ireland's offensive
attack is launched in central midfield, where captain
Roy Keane normally captains the ship. With his sudden
expulsion from the team, though, Ireland will have to
find another attacking midfielder to lead the way and
distribute the ball to the two strikers.
Strengths:
Strong qualification -- The Republic of Ireland
weren't lacking in confidence after they went undefeated
in the group stage of qualifying. Strong performances
against Portugal and Holland, including a pivotal 1-0
triumph over the Dutch, had the Irish riding a tidal
wave of momentum into the World Cup.
Depth in midfield -- Even without Roy Keane,
coach Mick McCarthy has a wealth of midfield players
to choose from. Kevin Kilbane is very effective on the
left, Matt Holland is very capable in the middle, Mark
Kinsella is a workhorse, and Damien Duff gives Ireland
yet another option on the left side of the field.
Goalkeeping -- Shay Given is a reliable custodian
between the posts and is coming off a very impressive
season in the English Premier League with Newcastle
United. He's an excellent shot-stopper with a well-earned
reputation for coming up with big saves.
Weaknesses:
The Keane factor -- Like Zinedine Zidane for
France, team captain Roy Keane is the engine that drives
Ireland's attack. His sudden suspension from the team
is a devastating blow and a huge distraction, enveloping
the team in a swirl of negative media attention. Without
him, Ireland stands little chance of advancing beyond
the first group.
Goal scoring -- Ireland lacks a quality, potent
striker who can score with any kind of regularity. Robbie
Keane's strike record in international competition is
far from glamorous, while 35 year-old Niall Quinn is
getting long in the tooth and injury prone.
Experience -- Ireland last qualified for the
World Cup in 1994. The bulk of Ireland's players are
in their early-20s and only have a handful of caps to
their credit. This lack of international pedigree makes
the Irish that much more vulnerable to the experienced
players of Cameroon and Germany.
Key injuries/omissions: Roy Keane was sent home
by coach Mick McCarthy for disciplinary reasons....
Starting midfielder Jason McAteer strained a medial
ligament in his left knee during an exhibition game
last week and might miss Ireland's first game....
Outlook: The Republic of Ireland impressed in
the qualifying round, surviving a difficult group that
included Portugal and Holland. However, the sudden eviction
of captain Roy Keane, who pulls the strings behind Ireland's
attack in midfield, is a devastating blow. His absence
cripples the team and all but ensures the Irish will
be going home after the first round. With him, the Irish
could have competed for one of the top two spots in
Group E; without him, the best they can realistically
hope for is third place.
The
Country
Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths
of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean,
west of Great Britain
Capital: Dublin
Area: 70,280 sq km
Population: 3,797,257 (July 2000 est.)
Government type: Republic
Climate: Temperate maritime; modified by North
Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently
humid.
Ethnic groups: Celtic, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland
2.5%, other 5.9%.
Languages: English is the language generally
used, Irish (Gaelic) spoken mainly in areas located
along the western seaboard.
History: After five years of guerrilla warfare,
Ireland gained independence from the UK in 1921, and
in 1948 it withdrew from the British Commonwealth. Ireland
joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments
over the years have struggled to achieve a peaceful
unification of Ireland and have worked alongside Britain
in its ongoing battle against terrorist groups operating
out of Northern Ireland.
The
Community in Canada
Irish immigrants began settling in Canada in the 1700s,
but it was the potato famine that really swelled the
numbers of Irish immigrants in the 1840s - so much so
that Irish-Canadians accounted for 20 per cent of the
population by Confederation in 1867.
However, it's a little-known fact that most of the
famine arrivals moved on to the United States. Today,
about 13% of Canadians claim Irish heritage.
Thomas D'Arcy McGee, the Irish Nationalist turned Canadian
political visionary, ensured a strong Irish presence
in his adopted city of Montreal in the 19th century
(although he brought out other strong feelings in Ottawa,
where he was assassinated). Still, there are large and
vibrant Irish communities throughout eastern and Atlantic
Canada with pockets elsewhere as well - witness the
incredible vitality of Celtic music in Canada.
The word on the street (or in the pub, actually, where
much of the World Cup viewing is expected to take place
among Irish-Canadian fans) is that Ireland can go far.
When asked to point out specific stars to watch, one
veteran at McVeigh's New Windsor in Toronto balked:
"They play as a complete team. That's the beauty of
it - they're a solid force to be reckoned with."
When reminded of the Cameroonian team they would face
in the opening round and that team's recent successes
in Sydney, Kobe and Mali, he scoffed, "They're good
but they're too young - not experienced enough. Ireland's
got that going for them."
He was partly right. Ireland tied Cameroon, but the
Irish did go through to the second round without incurring
a loss.
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