February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Jay Mwamba
Irish boss Mick McCarthy looks at the Euro 2000 squad he’s forged and likes what he sees.
The coaches of old powers Spain, Russia and Germany, meanwhile, are hard pressed to find any reason for optimism as their teams continue to struggle in the qualifying race for next summer’s European Soccer Championship, which resumes March 27.
McCarthy’s new Ireland, a work in progress for much of the three years since the departure of the highly successful Jack Charlton, who took the Republic to the 1988 Championship, seems to be becoming good at the right time.
With veterans Roy Keane and Dennis Irwin providing the inspiration, Ireland are sitting atop a Group 8 packed with tough Slavic opposition. Their lead is based on goal difference.
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