McAteer - could be about to call it a day.
McATEER READY FOR FINAL BOW
By Neil Silver, PA Sport, Seoul
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Ireland might be on the brink of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals but
Sunderland midfielder Jason McAteer could be about to bow out of the
international scene.
McAteer has revealed he will consider retiring from international football
after this World Cup.
The former Liverpool midfielder hopes to win his 50th cap in Sunday's
last-16 clash with Spain in Suwon, but he may bring down the curtain on his
Republic of Ireland career if and when the team depart this tournament.
"It would be lovely to reach 50 caps, it is a big thing and it puts a little
seed in my head for when I reach the end of the tournament," said McAteer.
"I shall have to speak to a few people when I get back but if I get to 50
caps it would be a case of reaching a landmark and going out at the top.
"I shall be 31 in June and a lot of players are trying to prolong their
playing careers at club level by taking a step down from international football.
I am at that stage of my career where I have got to think about it."
McAteer made his international debut in March 1994 in a friendly against
Russia and is playing in his second World Cup finals. He has scored three goals
for the Republic.
He believes that by hanging up his international boots he can prolong his
Sunderland career under Peter Reid.
He said: "I got a great move to Sunderland and am playing for an absolutely
fantastic manager, who I class as a friend as well.
"It would be sad to get an injury which stops me playing for him because I
love playing for Sunderland and hopefully I can prolong my career and play a lot
of years there rather than a few."
McAteer hit the headlines last week after admitting he lied to Republic boss
Mick McCarthy about his fitness ahead of the opening World Cup Group E game
against Cameroon, claiming his injured knee was fine.
He aggravated the injury and was taken off in the second half, and failed to
get his place back for the second game against Germany. But he came off the bech
in the final group game against Saudi Arabia.
McAteer insisted his knee would hold up if he was selected to play against
Spain, but has prepared himself for the worst.
"The knee is OK and I am doing everything possible to prove to Mick that I
should be playing," he said.
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 clash with Spain.
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."
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