MICK’S PICK & MIX

Life’s sweeter for Mac after pool reshuffle

MICK MCCARTHY endured a heart-in-mouth, sliding doors moment at the Euro 2020 draw yesterday but insisted it was ‘premature’ to say he was relieved.

When Portugal legend Nuno Gomes pulled the Republic of Ireland out of the hat, by right they should have gone into Group C.

The formidable pairing of Holland and Germany were lying in wait but Ireland dogged that bullet on a technicality.

UEFA rules state that no more than two host nations – the finals are spread across 12 countries – can contest one qualifying group.

With Dublin staging four matches, Mccarthy’s team were shifted into Group D with Northern Ireland the poor unfortunates next out to fill the Group C void.

“We all had a moment,” said Mccarthy. “But someone with magic fingers on a laptop shifted it and whatever algorithm decided it.

“They explained before that that could happen, of course, but it was still a bit of a surprise when it did.”

But as Mccarthy was quick to note Switzerland and Denmark will present their own challenges, not least with the Swiss set to top the next UEFA rankings.

“There was a collective sigh of relief but it was a bit premature when you’re looking at Switzerland and Denmark in the group – it’s hardly made it easy,” he continued.

“Switzerland have qualified for every tournament have they not? In recent times I think they have.

“My worry when you play Switzerland and Denmark is that they’re as good as those other teams but without the special status ‘glamour’ given to others.

“But they’re bloody tough and have good players so they are the teams that concern me more than the others. It’s two good sides we’ve still got in our group and I think Georgia was the hardest one out of the fourth pot as well.”

Indeed, Ireland will face Georgia for the third qualifying campaign on the bounce while minnows Gibraltar were rivals en route to Euro 2016.

“We got a break in terms of travelling and preparation – and in terms of missing Azerbaijan as well,” said Mccarthy. “Georgia is a long trip but Azerbaijan is even further. Little breaks? Let’s hope that’s one of them.”

Mccarthy won’t have any friendly games to experiment before the serious business begins in late March. But having been drawn in a fiveteam group rather than six, it means there will be two calendar dates available in 2019 to pencil in friendlies.

Yet Mccarthy’s focus is on toppling top seeds Switzerland – a nation he knows only too well.

The Swiss inflicted his only competitive home defeat in his first stint in charge – and that late 2002 game just happened to be his last as he resigned a few weeks later.

Mccarthy said: “It was my last match, wasn’t it? I didn’t lose many competitive games so it’s a chance for revenge.

As a player, Mccarthy’s first competitive away international was against a Danish side laced with stars such as Preben Elkjaer, Soren Lerby and Michael Laudrup.

“It was like the Red Arrows coming past us, they were pretty good those boys,” he said with a smile.

“I’ve seen Denmark play against us. They’re a competent team, Christian Eriksen makes them a better team because of his star quality.”