McCarthy waits for final decision

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy arrived in Dublin yesterday for the first squad training session ahead of the two vital European Championship qualifiers in the next fortnight, but the more immediate concern seemed to surround the UEFA executive committee meeting which starts in Barcelona this evening.

The FAI had been informed that UEFA will have a final discussion on the Yugoslavia game, including the findings of their six-man task force appointed in Tel Aviv last month to examine the problem of playing games around the Balkan states as the current conflict continues. While UEFA are currently standing by their decision that the game will go ahead, they have also maintained that they still reserve the right to review the decision. The task force, headed by UEFA General Secretary Gerhard Aigner, have already indicated that the game could go ahead.

The meeting, scheduled to begin at 6.00 this evening, will carry on into tomorrow when a statement is expected to be made at noon. For the moment, however, McCarthy is not expecting any alteration in the plans to play the Group Eight qualifying game with Yugoslavia at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week or the Macedonia game at the same venue the following Wednesday.

"I'm not even aware of what exactly they will be discussing but as far as we know the game is definitely on," said McCarthy. "We've been told it's on; that's what we are preparing for and there's no reason why I should think any other way. And we certainly don't want the players worrying about it at this stage.

"The hardest part about playing a game at this time of the year is the mental preparation, not the physical side. It's the end of the season, clubs are closed and team-mates are on holiday so we really need to be keyed in. It's hard enough playing Yugoslavia anytime without having to worry whether the game is 100 per cent on or not. It's certainly not ideal but we have to get on with it."

McCarthy again reiterated his dissatisfaction with the current scenario where the remaining group teams will not be playing in Belgrade. "I've said before that it is a clear advantage to Croatia, Macedonia and Malta and a disadvantage to Yugoslavia that they can't play at home. From the outset we said there would be no games played on neutral venues because if they did then they will all have to played there. Somehow I don't think that will happen."

The FAI, meanwhile, have yet to receive any further feedback from the government statement that they were "surprised and disappointed" that the game will go ahead. "They realise the predicament and our bind with UEFA and I think we're all waiting on what happens in Barcelona," said FAI commercial director Eddie Cox. "We've heard statements that the Minister for Sport Jim McDaid won't be coming and neither will the President Mary McAleese. There are all sorts of rumours going around about visas and all that but to the best of our knowledge there is no more action being taken. Everything is in place now in terms of accommodation, tickets and the like, including the under-21 sides, so if it's cancelled now then somebody will be facing a big bill."

McCarthy was also given the news yesterday that Ian Harte is the most recent addition to the Irish injury list. The Leeds United defender picked up a knee injury in the club's penultimate game against Arsenal and only played the last 20 minutes of their final game against Coventry last Sunday week.

"I got word here yesterday that he was still having trouble," said McCarthy. "We talked later on and he confirmed that he was seeing the physio and would not be making it to training this week. He doesn't know how long he'll be out and either do I, and that's it for the moment. I need to speak to the physio again but we've still got plenty of time yet before the game."

Last week McCarthy heard that Steve Staunton will definitely be absent from the Irish camp after hurting his hamstring in Liverpools's final game of the season. It's expected that he will be ruled out for up to four weeks and won't play a part in either qualifying match. With Roy Keane also struggling with an ankle injury, it appears likely that McCarthy will be without a full strength squad for at least the encounter with Yugoslavia.

"I haven't spoken with Roy yet so I've do update on his problem," added McCarthy. "It doesn't make it any easier for us but the plan anyway was to have himself and Denis Irwin join us next Tuesday, and with the amount of football that those lads have been playing I'm not worried about their fitness."

Jason McAteer is also carrying a slight injury although he is expected to be recovered shortly while Dean Kiely was also absent as he completed his new signing with Charlton.

Following their first training session, the Irish squad moved on to the Nuremore Hotel in Monaghan where they will spend the next three days concentrating on this Saturday's Omagh Fund friendly with Northern Ireland, also taking place at Lansdowne Road at 3.00 p.m.. The team will return to Dublin on Friday but, unfortunately, the tickets for that game have been very slow to sell.

"It's the worst possible scenario at this time," according to Cox. "We have tickets coming back in lorry loads from the affiliates and it really is looking poor. The qualifiers will be a sell out but for some reason this is quite the opposite. We thought it would sell itself for what it's for, and it does seem to be showing a fair amount of interest up North. There have been invitations sent to all immediate family members of the Omagh disaster, so everything is in place now and we'll have to try and make the best of it."

The clash with the Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers hasn't helped matters but the FAI are hoping there will be enough interest later in the week to attract the attendance that the game deserves.