“You’ll find out the team an hour before kick-off,” was McCarthy’s curt reply to a query about the matter. The balance and understanding between Stevens and McClean is likely to be relied upon again. “If you’d asked that question directly to him he’d punch you on the nose,” the Ireland boss retorted. Cullen has similar attributes to Whelan, so is capable of screening the defence, while he can also cover ground like Hendrick. Like a rueful parent catching their child doing something they shouldn’t, the Republic of Ireland manager wore the look of someone who expected much more.

Source: Irish Examiner October 15, 2019 06:00 UTC