AN EVENING TO FORGET FOR MICK
Home defeat to Russia kicked off an era that’s remembered for World Cup joy and Keane feud
‘McCarthy had edged out Kevin Moran on a split vote’
UTTERING the words ‘dreadful defending’, the late Ray Treacy summed up Ireland’s lack of concentration in his role as TV co-commentator for the Republic of Ireland’s first game under Mick McCarthy.
‘Trasser’ didn’t have to elaborate, for the defending was indeed shocking as Ireland nodded off at a corner from which Russia scored their second goal through Igor Kolyvanov.
Mark Kennedy doesn’t come out of the YouTube clip with much credit after a marshmallow challenge by the corner flag worth entry into the non-tackler’s union.
That Kennedy was left on his own against two Russians wasn’t his fault, in fairness. Others were missing.
But then, there was bound to be a level of miscommunication in an Irish XI which included senior citizens of the Jack Charlton era and a handful of headstrong colts in a novel 3-5-2 system.
No one was quite sure what to expect, not least the new man in charge. It’s exactly 24 years ago tonight that McCarthy, clad in baggy grey tracksuit, navy leggings, green socks and boots, sat in the dug-out at Lansdowne Road and grinned sheepishly for the cameras.
‘Son of Jack’, as some newspapers called him, McCarthy had edged out old defensive partner, Kevin Moran, on a split vote by FAI chiefs to succeed Charlton.
With the 1998 World Cup qualifiers to come in the autumn, McCarthy had a run of friendlies in which to fiddle and fix.
Over eight games, one of which Ireland won, McCarthy used 30 players, including a raft of new caps. Of those, only four who started against Russia were also in the first XI for the opening World Cup exam in Liechtenstein, Shay Given, Steve Staunton, Andy Townsend and Niall Quinn.
A bumper crowd of 41,600 crammed into the old enclosures for McCarthy’s first game where the red-hot Russians ensured there was no soft landing. Their classy line-up was dotted with familiar names after the collapse of the old Soviet regime opened up avenues across Europe.
Aleksandr Mostovoi and Valery Karpin would form a creative midfield alliance at Celta Vigo; Viktor Onopko was at Oviedo, Sergei Kiriakov at Karlsruhe, Andrei Kanchelskis at Everton.
Given was the Irish newcomer on show against Russia. Only 19 at the time, he had been identified by McCarthy as a potential challenger to Packie Bonner for the gloves.
He was powerless to prevent the goals scored by Mostovoi and Kolyvanov, both crisply struck efforts from the edge of the box, in the 34th and 54th minutes, respectively.
The first goal followed a deft back-heel by the quick-thinking Kanchelskis which took out Staunton and Roy Keane.
Ireland had gone close to a lead goal through Townsend, while Quinn was denied by the crossbar. Trailing 2-0, Staunton’s second-half penalty was blocked by the legs of keeper Stanislav Cherchesov.
At that moment, commentator George Hamilton lamented, ‘That about sums up the evening.’
Interviewed after the game, McCarthy said, ‘I’m not happy at getting beat but I take heart from the second-half performance against one of the best teams in the world.’
That 2-0 win, 24 years ago, enabled Russia to move up from fifth to third in the FIFA world rankings, their highest position.
The outcome was without doubt when Keane was red-carded for kicking out at Russian substitute Omari Tetradze in the 88th minute.
As Townsend had gone off at half-time, Keane had been handed the armband, ahead of Staunton, Quinn and Paul McGrath. It was a pointer to McCarthy’s long-term plans for the captaincy.
As for Tetradze, he was born Osipov, but changed his name to that of his Georgian grandmother when he turned professional as the Soviet Union was breaking up.
A right-back, he was Russia’s best player at the 1996 European Championships, where they failed to advance from a group which included eventual finalists Germany and the Czech Republic.
As for Keane, he rarely made it easy for himself under McCarthy. In the summer of 96, he chose to skip Ireland’s trip to the United States, despite being named as captain.
The problem was that Keane chose not to inform McCarthy that he wasn’t available. Even then, relations between the two powerful personalities were starting to strain.
Keane didn’t return until the World Cup qualifier at home to Iceland in November 1996, where he was picked in the centre of a three-man defence by McCarthy. The selection did neither Keane, nor the team, any favours.
After the opening night blues, five of the Irish team became cornerstones of the McCarthy era and would be selected for duty in the 2002 World Cup finals – Given, Staunton, McAteer, Keane and Quinn.
Keane had his issues with McCarthy in Saipan and never made it to Japan, while Kennedy would have been selected for the tournament but for injury.
Now in charge of Macclesfield, Kennedy has been forgiven by McCarthy for his defending on a night when Russian style blunted Irish spirit, 24 years ago today.
27/3/96 (LANSDOWNE ROAD) REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 0 RUSSIA 2 Republic of Ireland:
Given; Kernaghan, McGrath, Staunton; McAteer, Townsend (Kenna 46), Kennedy, Keane, Phelan; Aldridge (Cascarino 61), Quinn (Coyne 83). Russia: Cherchesov; Kovtun, Nikiforov, Onopko; Kanchelskis, Karpin, Mostovoi, Radimov, Tysmbalar, Kiriakov, Kolyvanov. Subs: Tetradze, Radchenko, Shalimov, Simutenkov. Scorers: Mostovoi 34, Kolyvanov 54. Referee: H Luyten (Holland)