Group D Czech Republic v Republic of IrelandAware his days in green are numbered, the midfielder means business, writes Mary Hannigan
At 33 he's the oldest outfield player in the squad - only goalkeeper Nick Colgan is his senior - but at training at the AXA Arena in Prague yesterday Lee Carsley had the look of a man who's intent on offering up every last ounce of energy he possesses before his days of international football are done. It would appear he's in Prague on business.
It's a decade since the Birmingham-born midfielder made his international debut, but he has won only 34 more caps since then, much of his time having been spent on the bench and in the shadow of the likes of Roy Keane, Mark Kinsella and Matt Holland.
And then there was that break from the international scene, when he wanted to concentrate on securing his place at Everton and spending time with his family; three years passed before he was recalled last October to play against the Czech Republic.
He's played in every qualifying game since, but Carsley doesn't come across as someone who believes his feet are firmly back under the table.
"Every game I play for Ireland is potentially my last," he says, acknowledging that time is fast running out for his dream of reaching the finals of a major tournament, and playing a significant part therein.
Your last chance?
"Definitely. I remember when we played Belgium in the World Cup play-offs (1997), I remember Andy Townsend and those lads crying in the showers after the game, but I just thought, 'I am going to get a chance to play in a major championship, I have nothing to worry about.' But then time passes you by and you haven't played in one. You just realise you can't take it for granted, certainly not any more.
"Hopefully it will hit home to these lads that we need to start putting performances together so we can get there."
He has, he admits, already given some thought to retiring at the end of this campaign, but until then he will remain available to Steve Staunton.
"Obviously I have thought about it, but basically I am just taking it game by game now. If the next squad is announced and Stan thinks that he doesn't need me, I won't retire. But it is down to the manager. I'm not taking it for granted that I'll play for Ireland."
His assessment of the Slovakia game is an honest one; while some of his team-mates put the dropping of two points down to bad luck, Carsley sees it differently: "It was a massive blow. Playing in any game and conceding so late on is a real sickener, to be honest. Looking back on the game, both goals could have been avoided, so that is something we are going to have to work on. It has put a lot more pressure on us. Initially we came here looking to get four points; now we need three from this game.
"I thought, overall, the performance was okay - in patches we played well, in patches we played poor. We kept the ball at times and we gave it away at times. It was just so disappointing to give away poor goals. We looked to see the game out, but we didn't do that. Basically a punt down the field resulted in their second. And basically we have to show a lot more experience and nous to address all that."
Is it about concentration?
"Of course it is. To concede a goal from a set piece is disappointing because everyone has a role to play and a man to mark. But we looked comfy, and then a couple of slack passes and the game turned. Then you find you're camped on the edge of your box. I think the longer the game went on, the deeper we tended to sit.
"We have to push out. It's all about confidence, the confidence to get out; we have to have the confidence to push up. The deeper we go, the harder it is for everyone."
Is it an issue that we have lost the lead four times in games in this group?
"It is not an issue but it has got to be an issue. Every goal you concede can be stopped. It's something you need to focus on and address. I am sure as this team grows, we will get better, but it's down to the players.
"We may have to be a lot more streetwise, show a lot more nous, get the ball straight back when you lose it. If that means committing a foul then we will have to do that.
"The key thing for us against the Czechs is approaching it like it's a home game. We have to go out and set the tempo and attack them. They will be looking at a point as a good result, so this game is all about us. We have to show the fans and prove to ourselves we can go away and win."
The pitch looks good?
"Yeah, so no excuses. No bobbles - but I'll find one," he grins, and with that it's back to business.