SOCCER: Across Japan, the special clocks dotted about host cities show the seconds remaining before the World Cup finals get underway. Back at home, Mick McCarthy's countdown is mapped out in games - Russia, Denmark and then the USA - after which he will name his travelling party. Emmet Malone reports
His clock, then, starts ticking tonight at Lansdowne Road where Richard Sadlier, Andy O'Brien and, possibly, Colin Healy will be given a chance to make their cases. All are currently longshots to make the final Irish squad of 23 but, against an improving Russian side with World Cup issues of their own to resolve, their aim will be to shorten those odds.
Issues of fitness permitting, McCarthy is generally happy to name his starting line-up the day before a game, but it can be taken as a measure of how seriously he is viewing this evening's contest that he delayed his decision yesterday, preferring to mull things over before seeking to strike a balance between those already guaranteed reserved seating on the plane for Niigata and those left waiting on standby.
Sadlier should start up front, where he is likely to be partnered by Leeds United's Robbie Keane. In defence Andy O'Brien, after three appearances as a substitute, none of which has allowed him a crack at his preferred position in central defence, may also get his first start in a Republic of Ireland jersey. After that, however, the initial line-up should have a familiar look about it.
The challenge for the Ireland manager is to see as many of the challengers as possible, but to see them in as close as is possible to a full strength team. With that in mind, it seems likely that the rest of the defence and all of the midfield will be selected from the manager's regular squad members, with Lee Carsley possibly being rewarded for his patience through the qualifying campaign with a place at the kick-off.
"I've been very impressed with Sads (Richard Sadlier)," said the Ireland manager yesterday, "and he certainly hasn't looked out of place training with us over the past couple of days, but then neither has Colin Healy - for somebody who has never played he looks the part."
Carsley's move to Everton last week was, McCarthy said, great for the player and one that could, in turn, benefit Healy if Coventry City eventually seek to make the young midfielder's loan spell from Celtic permanent.
"It could end up being good for him," conceded McCarthy, "if he decided he wanted to stay, although the pity of it is that he could have benefited from playing alongside somebody like Lee for a while at this stage in his development."
In central defence there is something of a disorderly queue forming, with McCarthy having the choice of five players from this squad as well as Gary Doherty and John O'Shea. The reality is that, assuming they are fit, Steve Staunton, Gary Breen and Kenny Cunningham are all certain to travel. Richard Dunne may be hard to dislodge too, but the form of O'Brien and the versatility of Doherty may make the Manchester City defender's wait on McCarthy's final decision a nervous one.
Another consideration for McCarthy is the extent to which his players are involved at club level just now, and Robbie Keane's somewhat peripheral involvement at Leeds appears, on this occasion, to mark him out as the most likely partner for Sadlier. "It's something I have to think about," said the manager, "because some of the lads certainly don't need the game."
At right back either Gary Kelly or Steve Finnan could start, but McCarthy received a boost yesterday when Steve Carr, by way of his website, insisted reports that he now needs a hernia operation are entirely without foundation. He will, he says, be back to full training within a matter of weeks.
Just who McCarthy will start with in goal is far from clear either, although a knee injury sustained by Alan Kelly in training on Monday looks certain to make it a straight choice between Shay Given and Dean Kiely, who has waited close to two years to add to the fourth cap he earned against Mexico in the US. In the end, it is likely to make little enough difference, for one will probably make way for the other at half-time.
As for the opposition, the Russians come here looking to achieve something like the 2-0 win they managed on their last visit to Dublin back in 1996 which was, as it happens, McCarthy's first match in charge.
"I remember they were better than us," said McCarthy before observing that he had seen them then as being of the sort of standard that his side needed to reach if it was to compete seriously on the international stage. "But, he added, "I think we've done that now."
His Russian counterpart these days, Oleg Romantsev, is also expected to use this evening's game to look at one or two of his options for this summer. The visitors, though, have a strong squad with them too and established stars like Alexander Mostovoi and Valery Karpin, both of Celta Vigo, as well as Spartak Moscow's Vladimir Beschastnykh are all expected to feature from the outset.
Indeed Mostovoi, perhaps the side's most accomplished player, seems confident that his side can break a habit of performing badly around this time of the year.
"The Irish field a fine side," he said, "but their play is a little straightforward. That is their main fault and we should be able to take advantage of it."
Possible teams
IRELAND: Given (Newcastle United); Finnan (Fulham), O'Brien (Newcastle United), Staunton (Aston Villa), Harte (Leeds United); McAteer (Sunderland), Keane (Manchester United), Carsley (Everton), Kilbane (Sunderland); Sadlier (Millwall), Keane (Leeds United).
RUSSIA: Nigmatullin (Verona, Italy); Chugainov (Uralan Elista), Drozdov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Khlestov (Kesiktas, Turkey), Onopko (Real Oviedo, Spain), Titov (Spartak Moscow), Karpin (Celta Vigo, Spain), Mostovoi (Celta Vigo, Spain), Khokhlov (Real Sociedad, Spain) , Alenichev (Porto, Portugal), Beschastnykh (Spartak Moscow).
