Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy says he'll be finding it hard not to see an orange tint in everything he looks at this summer as he awaits the 1st of September, the day Holland come to Lansdowne Road.
The Dutch and the Irish face another showdown that is likely to decide the fate of the two teams in the race for the 2002 World Cup finals, with the victors likely to qualify as group winners and the losers fighting for a place in the play-offs, something they both know all about.
McCarthy battled to find words that befitted the praise he wanted to lavish on his Republic of Ireland side after they gave themselves a chance of winning Group Three of the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
The Irish team followed last Saturday's sometimes ill-tempered game against their main rivals Portugal in Dublin with an away win against the Estonian national side. The 2-0 win brought Ireland within two wins of automatic qualification for the most prestigious football tournament on earth.
Matt Holland deputised for captain Roy Keane and scored one of Ireland's two goals. The Manchester City defender Richard Dunne scored the other goal and the scoreline remained that way to give Ireland three more valuable points.
A relieved McCarthy said he would enjoy his summer even less than if his team had failed because the excitement was almost going to make the wait for the concluding games than if there was a more worrying scenario.
"To be sat at the top of the group with two games left is beyond everybody's wildest dreams.
"Two wins and we still have a chance of coming top of the group. It is easier to say it but I can go on my holidays and think of it all summer long."
McCarthy might be forgiven his excitement because the next game is against Holland in Dublin on 1 September. The manager knows that the team faces a massive challenge from Louis Van Gaal's men but McCarthy is confident.
"Holland will come to Lansdowne Road in September looking for a win but if we have got everybody fit and if we're prepared we can beat anybody at home.
"We knew Estonia were going to be difficult but I can't congratulate my players enough for a job well done."
|
