We're the underdogs says Mick

Cathal Dervan13 April 2012

Mick McCarthy has banned all mention of Germany's World Cup humiliation by England as his team make their final preparations.

The Republic of Ireland manager, sweating it out on the Pacific island hideaway of Saipan, has told his squad to forget all about Sven-Goran Eriksson's finest hour and a half.

Ireland are in Group E, along with Germany, Cameroon and Saudi Arabia and McCarthy is talking up England's old enemy as favourites to top the group.

"The England game is not one we'll even talk about," said McCarthy on the third and hottest day yet of Ireland's World Cup training schedule. "I only watched the first 20 minutes or so that night because we had just beaten Holland and I was ready to murder a pint of Guinness.

"When I left my room Sebastian Deisler had just missed a great chance and I really believe the scoreline may have been the other way around if he had scored. England were in disarray at that stage so I was flabbergasted by the end result.

"Germany are a better side than the 5-1 defeat that night would suggest and it would be dangerous of us to read anything into it at all, never mind believe that the Germans are a weaker side now than they have been for some time.

"I will not entertain such thoughts. For me they are the favourites to win the group because they have some very good players, even with all their injuries, and also because they have history and tradition on their side.

"That can have a major bearing on a World Cup finals.

"With no disrespect to ourselves, Cameroon or Saudi Arabia, it is fair to say that the Germans dwarf us all in terms of World Cup achievement. They have three titles to their team and that means they know how to play in a tournament like this, even if this is not one of the great German sides.

"It is like a Premiership team going to play at Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester United. There is always a psychological disadvantage when you go to those places because you aren't just playing against 11 players, you are also taking on history and tradition. That can be dangerous."

McCarthy sent his former international colleague Gerry Peyton to run the rule over the Germans when they lost against Wales last week. But he is not reading too much into that 1-0 defeat either.

"I have spoken to Gerry and read his report. We know that the Germans will be a better side come June just as they will be better then than they were against England.

"I look at the results since as a better form guide. England have not performed as well since that night and it may do them a favour because those friendly results will lower expectations ahead of the World Cup finals and take some of the pressure off Sven's team.

"Germany lost to Wales and to a very good Argentina side but they scored 18 goals in their wins against Israel, Austria and Kuwait. That is more indicative of the sort of threat we will face in the World Cup finals."

Jason McAteer is Ireland's only injury worry ahead of Saturday's warm-up match against Hiroshima, 24 hours after the team travels on to Japan.

"Jason has a slight ankle problem but he will be fine. Everyone else is fully fit and coping with the heat and humidity," added McCarthy.

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