McAteer admits lying to McCarthy over injury

Jason McAteer has admitted that he lied to the Republic of Ireland's manager Mick McCarthy about his fitness before the opening World Cup game against Cameroon 10 days ago. The Sunderland midfielder received another knock on his injured knee in the match and had to be substituted at half-time. Although declared fit for the second game against Germany on Wednesday, he was left out.

McAteer was originally hurt by a bad tackle in the friendly against Sanfrecce Hiroshima a week earlier, his first thought being that he would be out of the tournament altogether. A scan revealed only bruising rather than ligament damage, but two days before the Cameroon match the knee still felt bad. In his column in Dublin's Sunday Independent yesterday, he revealed that when McCarthy came to his room to ask about his fitness, emphasising the need for complete honesty: "I looked him straight in the eye and lied. I had to. The World Cup is the ultimate. I couldn't tell him the truth."

McAteer admitted that he was fortunate to come through a fitness test the day before the game, which stopped "just before my knee was about to explode." McCarthy, however, insisted on replacing him with Steve Finnan at half-time and kept the Fulham player in the side for the German game. That suited the team tactically, with Finnan and Gary Kelly forming a barrier to stop Christian Ziege down their right flank, but it will be interesting to see whether the manager is prepared to restore McAteer, who is back in full training, now that a more attacking approach is required against Saudi Arabia in Yokohama tomorrow.

Ireland must win by two goals – which they have never done in 14 previous matches at major tournaments – to ensure qualification. If Cameroon beat Germany, or lose to them, then any margin of victory will do. Kevin Kilbane and Matt Holland have both sat out one training session over the past two days, but both are expected to play.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Ireland is hoping that the performances of the Irish team and their thousands of followers will increase support for the joint Scotland–Ireland bid to stage the European Championship in 2008. Simon Lyons, the marketing manager for the bid, said here yesterday: "I think the World Cup has been a showcase for Irish and Scottish football over the last four World Cups, both having qualified for three of the last four. Anywhere the Irish or Scottish fans go, they make their mark as great fans and visitors. The Irish following here has been exemplary."

There has been much debate about which two or three stadia Ireland would use. The newly re-elected government has promised to press ahead with a new national stadium in Dublin, Lansdowne Road is to be revamped and there is still a possibility of using Croke Park, the recently modernised 80,000-capacity Gaelic football venue. To do that would require abolishing the rule that GAA grounds can only be used for traditional, nationalist sports.

The other strongest contenders to stage the finals appear to be Austria–Switzerland and the joint Scandinavian bid, involving Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Uefa will make a final decision in December.

* Ireland were reprimanded by Fifa security officials for bringing 10 fans on their team bus into the stadium before one of their games. Spectators have to go through special security checks when they enter a stadium, including walking through metal detectors.