Soccer: Ireland dare to dream of making final

YOKOHAMA - Mick McCarthy is dreaming of a return to Yokohama's International Stadium for the World Cup final on June 30 after Ireland cruised into the last 16 by beating Saudi Arabia.

Yesterday's 3-0 victory, thanks to goals by Robbie Keane, Gary Breen and Damien Duff, secured their passage from group E at the expense of Cameroon and was the last match Ireland will play in Japan, unless they reach the final itself.

"I will be sad to see the back of Japan, but who knows, maybe we will be back," said McCarthy.

"We want to get as far as we can. We came here with the ambition of trying to win it.

"Is that realistic? Who knows? People didn't think we could get where we are now. People thought we'd get beat in the first two games.

"We fight against doubters and critics all the time. We do it very well."

Ireland have overcome the loss of captain Roy Keane - who left the Irish camp after a row with McCarthy before the tournament began - to reach the last 16 for the third time in three attempts.

Stand-in captain Steve Staunton, who won his 101st cap against the Saudis and laid on the second goal for fellow defender Breen, said the squad should give themselves a pat on the back before worrying about the second-round game.

"We've come here, it was a difficult job, but we have finished the job. It wasn't a great performance, but ... we probably deserved the victory," the 33-year-old said.

"It's a marvellous achievement. We've been through to this stage three times and it's another marvellous achievement.

"We have come through a group with Germany, the African champions and Saudi Arabia, who we knew were not that bad.

"The lads have done the business."

REUTERS

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