The Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has backed his side to do themselves justice as they face Cameroon this Saturday.

The team faces a World Cup opener without former captain Roy Keane, who was sent home for verbal abuse of the Ireland boss but the boss is just happy that he can now concentrate solely on football.

But McCarthy is confident that his side can draw on their most professional attitudes in advance of the clash with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. McCarthy knows that the eleven players who represent their country in a World Cup will go out on the pitch and do their best regardless of distractions in the build-up.

He said: "Footballers have a wonderful gift and a wonderful knack to walk over that white line and forget about anything that is going on, and not worry about anybody else - not any other players or any member of staff.

"They just go out and play. It is a lovely area, that piece of green with those white lines on, where you are protected for 90 minutes from everything. It is wonderful and they will enjoy it."

The Ireland boss says he has become a stronger person after the controversial events of the last ten days.

"Something has come along this week that has tested me and tested a lot of other people, and I am not going to walk away from this with my head held low, with any shame, with any fear about what I have done," he said.

"I am a stronger person for it because it has been the worst week of my life. It was not of my choosing and not something I would have wished upon me or anybody else.

"I think I have tried to handle it with dignity and as well as I possibly could with regards to not only me, but to the squad of players and everybody else who is involved in this World Cup with the Republic of Ireland.

"I have tried to do it in the best interests of everybody. The real shame of it is that I don't think I have any need to walk away from this and hold my head in shame.

"Yes I feel sorry about the incident that has happened and what's gone on, but in no way, shape or form do I feel ashamed of it and I am not going to walk away and worry about what I have done. The fact Roy is not here is now his decision.

"What people think about me I cannot change. All I have ever done for Ireland, for my country, is play as well as I could, manage as best I could, and I think I have done a damn good job of it on both counts."

McCarthy urged Irish supporters to back the team as a unit regardless of their personal feelings on the incidents of last week.

He said: "Whether you support me or not is irrelevant at this stage. Get behind them guys and let's see if we can do well in this World Cup. Support them.

"I am glad it is finished with and it has been dealt with. Hopefully we can move on, we have been trying to move on and talk about football for a number of days and that has not been the case.

"It has been a regrettable incident all the way through. It has not helped us and some of the young players in the squad must be wondering what is going on.

"It is not what the World Cup is about. There is always some incident in a World Cup which causes a huge media interest and unfortunately for us it has been in the Republic of Ireland camp this time.

"Hopefully now we can move on now, play the games and play well, and discuss football."

Mick McCarthy