Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy appeared on the Late Late Show tonight, producing a typically entertaining interview.
While most of the conversation was based around the fortunes of the current Irish team, including the Declan Rice saga and the upcoming opening Euro 2020 Qualifying away to Gibraltar on March 20th, McCarthy also cast his mind back to his own playing days.
He was of course captain of the national team during the golden era of Irish football, which included a trip to the World Cup quarter finals in 1990. Ireland would ultimately fall short against hosts Italy, losing 1-0 to a Salvatore Schillaci goal.
McCarthy has very mixed feelings about that game, describing that day in Rome both as his best and worst in football:
We had been sat on the pitch prior, watching the Argentina game on the big screen. Our lads were laid on the pitch watching it, and the Italians walked down in their smart tracksuits looking very pristine, and were slightly unnerved by our relaxed attitude watching the game laying on the pitch!
To walk down onto the pitch with the captain's armband for the quarter final of the World Cup in Rome, I'm not articulate enough to describe how I felt.
"That is the best day of my career, but walking off having lost and played really well, I've never been as disappointed. I was in floods of tears walking down the tunnel. I did think that the Portuguese referee didn't really give us a great deal.
"I was feeling sorry for myself, being grumpy and snarly and in a horrible mood. But I was walking up the tunnel and (Franco) Baresi ran after me and wanted to change shirts, which was fabulous because he was a proper player. He really put me in the shade, definitely.
"I went up and sat in the dressing room. Mick Byrne and Charlie O'Leary came up and I was in absolute floods of tears. I don't know why. I was disappointed, I was angry, we had lost and were out of the competition.
"So to feel so great going there, and to be so elated I had the rug pulled from under my feet good and proper.
"It's only after when people ask me 'what was the best moment in your career' and 'what was the worst moment'. When I thought about it, I probably had them in the same day."
Ireland have yet to match that performance in a major tournament, with the last 16 penalty shootout loss to Spain in the 2002 World Cup coming the closest, a game for which McCarthy was manager. He will be hoping his current squad can reach those highs, and that all starts with the trip to Gibraltar in two weeks.
McCarthy certainly made a big impression on the people watching at home:
I do like Mick McCarthy. Always have done. He's intelligent, fluent & a natural leader. He's also a very nice person. Also as 2nd generation he gets the diaspora - it's clear he flushed out Rice. #LateLateShow
— John Finn / Seán Óg Fionn (@SeanFionn) March 8, 2019
Wonderful Italia'90 story from Mick McCarthy on tonight's @RTELateLateShow
Playing the host nation in a World Cup Quarter Final and narrowly losing to a team containing Baggio, Baresi, Maldini & Co
Doesn't get much better... hoping to see such good times again— Tony Hannon (@tonyhannon1980) March 8, 2019
I don't mind saying it, I love Mick McCarthy #LateLateShow
— Noel McGrath (@noelmcgra13) March 8, 2019
Don’t ya just kinda want Mick McCarthy to be your dad! #LateLateShow
— Stu #SupportMedicalScientists 🇵🇸 (@StuartAllen93) March 8, 2019
