McCarthy shows the strain

McCarthy said he had no complaint with the facilities

By Lyle Jackson Our man with the Republic of Ireland

Spain v Ireland | Second round | Suwon
Sun 16 June | 12.30 BST
Live on BBC One and Radio Five Live

Being cast as underdogs suits the Republic of Ireland as they prepare for Sunday's game against Spain.

But manager Mick McCarthy is showing signs of becoming tired of people expecting his team to lose.

Turbulent time for the Irish

The boss had a little pop at the following media posse when he held his first news conference since Ireland's arrival in Korea.

McCarthy denied that the Irish had complained to Fifa about their hotel and training facilities ahead of Sunday's last 16 clash with Spain in Suwon.

McCarthy's denial contradicted an earlier comment by Football Association of Ireland chief Brendan Menton who had said that the Irish had made a formal complaint to Fifa.

Anybody who suggests we cannot beat Spain must be crazy

Mick McCarthy

But the Irish manager was even more annoyed by what he believed was the lack of respect his team were receiving from some quarters.

He clearly believes that having originally qualified from a group which included Portugal and Holland, his team deserves to be taken seriously.

And more especially so when some pundits predicted they could not survive against Cameroon and Germany without Roy Keane.

"If I had to rely on people in here for confidence we would be knackered," McCarthy told reporters.

"I have sensed that all along."

The star names in Spain's squad roll off the tongue, but the Irish team boss fired a warning to those believing Ireland's downfall to be inevitable.

Robbie Keane didn't train on Thursday

"There is a difference between a good football team and a team of well-known world stars," he said.

"We respect Spain as a good side, but we are not scared of anybody. I do not like the word fear.

"Anybody who suggests we cannot beat Spain must be crazy.

"Our results and performances have been just too good for that.

"It is complete nonsense if anybody thinks that.

"I have seen it too often against Irish teams, very confident sides going away with a bit of a spanking."

McCarthy's mood was not helped when the first questions asked suggested he had complained about Ireland's training facilities in Seoul.

"The facilities are excellent," he said.

It is a horrible thing in football, being expected to beat a team

Mick McCarthy

"We had a great result the other night, qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup and I am here talking about bull...again.

"I have not made a complaint to Fifa."

Several key players did not take part in Thursday's training session because of varying niggling injuries.

But Damien Duff (knee), Steve Staunton (thigh), Robbie Keane (groin) and Kevin Kilbane (ankle) are all expected to be available for the game against Spain.

Difficult pressure

Although Ireland coped admirably with the weight of expectation prior to the Saudi Arabia game, McCarthy is content to let Spain take over the mantle of favourites.

"We can be more relaxed, suddenly the pressure is not the same.

"It is a horrible thing in football, being expected to beat a team.

"It is a difficult pressure to deal with."