Quinn (left) has supported McCarthy.

By Neil Silver, PA Sport, Seoul

Click here to place your World Cup bets!
Click here for Republic team section
Click here for teams index
Click here for latest World Cup headlines
Click here for World Cup photo gallery
Click here for World Cup Bettingzone

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has praised the role of Niall Quinn both on and off the field during these World Cup finals.

Two years ago when Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign began, Quinn told McCarthy he was considering retiring from international football. But McCarthy talked him out of it and both men will be delighted he did.

Quinn came off the bench against Germany and then Saudi Arabia and changed the game in Ireland's favour both times, and he will hope to do the same in Sunday's second-round clash with Spain in Suwon. But the 35-year-old striker has been an inspiration behind the scenes too.

"Niall came to me in Turkey at the start of the qualifiers and wondered if I was going to tell him to call it a day," said McCarthy.

"He was considering it but I talked him out of it, very much for the reasons you've seen here.

"His input on the field is always positive. He gives us a different target and he lifts people when they see him coming on the field.

"Off the field he has been terrific as well. Not only was he running his testimonial, which as we all know was a huge success, but he has done that and helped us.

"He has taken on more than a captain's role, he has been great with the younger players, and as a liaison between me and the players he has been terrific.

"Two years ago he didn't really expect to be here having the team of his life, enjoying it, playing with a vibrant young team as the elder statesman, but when he comes on he's still a very valued member of the football team which is what he really wants to be.

"I knew he would be a huge help to me off the field and that's all a plus, but the football is important to me and him and I also knew if I needed him to play I could count on him - I wouldn't have brought him solely for his work off the field."

McCarthy and his players were facing a restless night here in the South Korean capital following Korea's progress into the second-round.

The team hotel is on City Hall Square, where thousands of Koreans gathered to watch the joint hosts beat Portugal on a giant screen. Not surprisingly, the loud partying and fireworks were continuing long into the night, making it difficult to sleep.

But McCarthy was philosophical and said: "There is not a lot I can do about it. The lads have trained hard today, I am sure they will be tired and they will sleep.

"If it was the night before our game it would be a concern. But I am not going to open the window and tell them to shut up and shift, I don't think that would go down too well.

"It's what the World Cup is all about. It's brilliant, the atmosphere, the buzz, the excitement, this is what it's all about.

"I hope it is like this back home in Dublin and I am sure it has been. Sadly we haven't seen it because we're 7,000 miles away. Two weeks ago I was delighted to be 7,000 miles away so I can't have it all ways. It's brilliant though, a great atmosphere."

Steve Staunton and Robbie Keane did not train on Friday but McCarthy said his physios were happy they would be okay for the Spain game. It is naturally a match everyone here is relishing.

"I think we have got the toughest one or as tough as any other game we could have got," said McCarthy. "That will make us try the harder, the reward if we beat them will be all the more.

"It's a great fixture, we have known all along who we would meet because from the outset I thought Spain would win their group and that Germany were favourites for ours. That is the way it has panned out and it is a fabulous fixture."

McCarthy will hope to have the job done before the match goes as far as penalties and although the squad practised them on Friday, no decisions will be made on the takers.

He added: "I can't decide my five because that would change if some of them are off the field at end of the game. In any case, it really is a personal thing, a case of who fancies it on the night."