Ireland in the mix for 2030 World Cup bid
O’Neill is fully behind him, but is Ireland’s abrasive No 2 too much of a drain on the team?
IRELAND could be part of an audacious five-way bid to host the 2030 World Cup on these islands. An option including Ireland as part of a submission to FIFA is being seriously considered by the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The 2030 finals are set to return to Europe and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin last week issued strong support for a bid from Britain and Ireland. The Slovenian said last Friday it was time ‘for that part of Europe to get the World Cup’ and ‘if more countries bid, there is more chance to win’. One of Ceferin’s strongest allies on the UEFA executive is FAI chief executive John Delaney, who is proven at working rooms to poll votes. It is believed that having the Republic of Ireland on board would bring in FIFA Congress votes from around the globe that would not normally support a Home Nations bid. Having a Britain and Ireland bid would also spread the load of the 48 training facilities that will be needed for the extended competition from 2026. In addition, Irish involvement in a five-way bid would solve
ON the first day back at school, like a benevolent headmaster, republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill made a point of welcoming the new kids to the class at Abbotstown.
There was handshakes and smiles in the Dublin 15 sunshine for the rookies, such as the Williams’, Shaun of Millwall and Derrick of Blackburn Rovers.
Watching on, buried under a peaked cap and glowering eyes was Roy Keane. Keano is O’Neill’s head prefect, whose job is to maintain order.
If O’Neill is the kindly Albus Dumbledore, then Corkman is Miss Trunchbull, who drills respect into the pupils, if not downright apprehension at times. Fall foul of Keano, and you know all about it.
Harry Arter has had enough of Keano and The Chokey and walked out of class, probably never to return. Will others follow him? O’Neill insists they won’t and that Keane, despite a row with Arter (right), is doing a very fine job as Ireland’s assistant manager.
Others may offer a different view, that Keane is too abrasive, if not offensive at times, in his ‘bad cop’ role.
Depending on his morning mood, the former Manchester United skipper can be sweet, or sour. No one is quite sure. Whatever about Keane’s light-switch personality, there is also the matter of his specific contribution to preparing the team for battle.
Steve Walford and Steve Guppy are in position as coaches, while Seamus McDonagh oversees the goalkeepers. In between, there is Keane. He has no time for shirkers and often dispenses his advice with an acid tongue.
Some players can give as good as they get, like Jon Walters. Others take the flak with a shrug, one or two cower, perhaps as Arter has done.
O’Neill is adamant of his No 2’s worth, that his presence lifts players, and that his knowledge of the game, at the highest level, is a benefit. From the press boxes, the sight of Keane on away grounds, overseeing the pre-match drills, is a reminder of how much he brought to the team in his prime years.
As O’Neill wrestles with the loss of Arter and the doubts over Declan Rice, he knows neither could hold a candle to his right-hand man back in the day.
Arter’s self-imposed exile for the Nations League was not lamented by O’Neill who observed that the Cardiff midfielder probably wouldn’t have played against Wales on Thursday, even though the likes of Rice, James McCarthy, Robbie Brady and Glenn Whelan are missing.
His indifference was disconcerting as Arter is one of only nine Irish internationals to have played in the Premier League this season. Surely, he would have brought more experience and cuteness to the midfield in Cardiff on Thursday than some of the others at O’Neill’s disposal.
Arter was named by O’Neill in his squad last Monday for this game, after which the manager made a point of meeting Arter in person to see could he iron out the creases following the Keane fall-out. Arter rejected the advances, something which the Derry man may find difficult to forgive.
He said yesterday that he would decide whether Arter can return, not the player, and that no one could pick and choose their internationals.
As for Rice, who is also absent this week, the situation on his future remains uncertain. O’Neill was adamant that Rice was not involved in the row between Arter and Keane before the game against the USA in Dublin. On that score, I stand corrected.
But this paper understands that a general remark made by Keane was picked up by Rice and is contributing, in part, to his evasion.
With Gareth Southgate having made contact at a vulnerable time
O’Neill is adamant that Keane lifts the players
Arter would have brought his cuteness to Cardiff
for Rice, the West Ham teenager is giving his international status much consideration.
For O’Neill and Ireland, the hope is that Rice returns to the classroom where he made such a favourable impression so far. He is clearly a bright boy who would have enjoyed being part of things yesterday.
Under blue skies, the warm-up was light, and light-hearted too, as the players enjoyed each other’s company, and are excited about a new term and the chance to play for their country.
O’Neill cited the presence of central defender Shane Duffy, clearly nursing a groin injury but reporting for duty, as evidence of the players’ unqualified commitment.
Stephen Ward, the senior player at 33, will win a deserving 50th cap against Wales and he, along with Jeff Hendrick, belied their Sunday exertions with Burnley to take a full part in things.
Clad in fluorescent green training tops, the players could have come straight from the construction site next door to the training pitch.
Their apparel is provided by New Balance, which could be a code word for what O’Neill is striving to find in the coming four Nations League games. For all that the times they are a changing, O’Neill can still call on eight of XI which started the opening World Cup qualifier against Serbia two years ago. He oversaw a very fine 2-2 draw that rainy night in Belgrade and would gleefully accept another in Cardiff on Thursday.
If Ireland lose, and were to struggle in midfield, the absence of Arter and Rice would bring the thorny build-up to this game — and Keane’s role in it — into a greater focus.