McCarthy - monumental task (Allsport)

By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Yokohama

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So far this has been the World Cup of the little teams.

A world of fantasy in which Pape Bouba Diop of Senegal has danced on the reputation of champions France, Milan Rapaic of Croatia has stunned mighty Italy, the United States stripped bare the artistic talents of Portugal and Arsenal's Junichi Inamoto gave Japan their first-ever World Cup triumph.

Tomorrow it's the turn of the Republic of Ireland as they strive to qualify for the knockout phase by beating Saudi Arabia by two clear goals.

That would guarantee progression, though a win by one goal could be enough dependent on what happens between Germany and Cameroon.

The vital statistic is that in 11 World Cup matches, spanning the glorious Jack Charlton years, Ireland have never scored more than one goal.

There is something about the Irish this time in Japan, however, which suggests the oriental odyssey is not set to end just yet.

They have come too far, endured the cataclysmic whingeing of Roy Keane, overcome the departure of their only world-class player and done what the Irish do best - band together for the common good.

The Irish camp has been virtual open house, players coming and going as they please, mixing with fans and the Press in a show of unity, camaraderie and tolerance in direct contrast to the mean and moody Argentinians and even the sanitised, regimented approach of England.

They have relaxed with a trip to Japan's Disneyland, 20 minutes from their training base in Chiba, where they went with their wives, girlfriends and children.

The Irish are one of the few teams to have allowed family to accompany the team, albeit staying in different hotels.

It typifies their relaxed style, which extends to their footballing preparations, the players spurning the opportunity to visit the stadium and train on the pitch on which they will be playing the day before the match.

"The pitches are all the same, you can eat off the dressing room floors wherever you go," was the attitude of one Irish player.

"Why spend the best part of two hours on a bus to train for an hour and then two hours back?"

Yet do not mistake relaxation for a lack of care.

"Other people regard us as underdogs," said Ireland boss Mick McCarthy today.

"But I am always confident. I was confident when we drew Portugal and Holland in qualifying and I've been confident all the way through the competition.

"I thought we'd do well in our last two games which we did, but it's not over-confidence. I just go into games believing we can win and if we play as well and make as many chances as we have done so far we can win this one."

Both matches so far have ended in 1-1 draws, the Irish displaying their endless supply of fighting spirit to claw their way back after losing early goals.

The Saudis, however, are not nearly as bad as they appeared against the Germans when they shipped eight goals in the Sapporo Dome on a cool night ideal for European football.

They might easily have drawn with Cameroon, a game in which midfielder Nawaf Al Temyat was particularly creative and industrious.

They are quick on the break, technically adept, a tidy passing side, but they do not have the spirit of Ireland. Not even close.

They do not have the tireless industry of Matt Holland and Mark Kinsella in midfield, nor the trickery of Damien Duff, nor the sheer energy of Robbie Keane, whose last-gasp strike against Germany was as timely as it was deserved. They do not possess the belief of McCarthy.

Nor, by any stretch of the imagination, do they have the towering presence of Niall Quinn, the 35-year-old Sunderland striker who came off the bench against Germany to supply the deft flick from which Keane benefited.

Quinn could just reward his manager's faith - perhaps not in the spectacular manner of German Miroslav Klose, scorer of four against a Saudi side whose defence against the high ball was lamentable.

But with a last half hour or so of aerial supremacy which promises to send them into a second-round encounter, almost certainly against Spain.

How ironic if one of the tallest players in the tournament should give another little team another taste of World Cup fantasy.