Mick McCarthy will be starting from scratch when he sits down to size up the Republic of Ireland's potential World Cup play-off opponents when he takes his seat at the Azadi stadium in Tehran (kick-off 3.0 Irish time) this afternoon. But the Ireland boss insisted yesterday that today's game between Iran and the United Arab Emirates as well as next week's return leg in Abu Dhabi affords him an unprecedented opportunity to assess in advance the challenge his side will face.
"I know absolutely nothing about them," he told RT╔ television as he prepared to fly to Iran yesterday, "but I'm getting something that I never get. I'm getting the opportunity to watch our opponents both home and away which never happens so I'm not complaining." Neither, as it happens is the UAE's Dutch coach Tini Ruijs who feels that his side may be in a position to capitalise on the disquiet in the Iranian camp following last weekend's surprise defeat by Bahrain.
Since the 3-1 loss which cost Iran automatic qualification for next summer's World Cup finals there have been rumours of match rigging, riots in the country's three largest cities and questions asked about manager Miroslav Blazevic's position. Despite having been reported to say that he would sack Blazevic if the Bahrain game ended badly, though, Irianian Football Federation president, Mohsen Safai Farahani, who is also a member of the Iranian cabinet, sidestepped questions about the manager this week and blamed Sunday's defeat on a string of poor performances by the country's players.
IFF offical Abass Toraian added that the players were "crying and ashamed", after the game and we're determined to make amends today but the home side's chances of placating their supporters this afternoon are not helped by the fact that three of their regular starters are suspended in the wake of the stormy Bahrain encounter. Another couple of Blazevic's original squad have been sent back to their club's after apparently making clear their displeasure at finding themselves on the bench for recent games.
Likely to be missed most are Hertha Berlin's Ali Daei and his strike partner Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht both of whom are amongst the players serving one match bans. "Our defence will be relieved of some of the danger, particularly from corners," said Ruijs, who went on to claim that his less fancied side might just be in a position to pull off a shock.
Kevin Kilbane's chances of playing in Ireland's World Cup play-off games in the middle of next month were described as "hit and miss" by a senior Sunderland official last night.
He injured his ankle in the recent defeat by Manchester United and the problem has since turned out to be more serious than initially expected. Reports that he is currently in plaster have been denied and it is still hoped that if he can get back into training next week then he will be fit enough to join up with McCarthy's squad for the build up to the November 10th game in Lansdowne Road.
