Irish making big strides

There is a certain economy to the way the Republic of Ireland go about this World Cup business. They may only ever have won two matches out of 12 at the finals, but here they are through to the second round for the third time. Qualification on Tuesday was achieved with a positive flourish, in statistical terms, with the bogey of never having scored more than once in a game comprehensively laid to rest by the 3-0 defeat of Saudi Arabia.

Steve Staunton has been in the team on all three occasions and appreciates more than most the strides the team have made, from a counter-attacking route one side under Jack Charlton in 1990 and 1994 to a more considered passing style. There are no purists, however, in a squad that still sets such store by hard graft, and Staunton was happy to admit yesterday the advantages of still having the lanky Niall Quinn around when a change of attacking focus is required.

That was the case at half-time in Yokohama, after Ireland had failed to build on Robbie Keane's early goal. "We got a bit erratic, became edgy but in the second half we settled down," said Staunton, who was an inspirational captain on his 101st appearance. "Big Niall gave us the option we probably needed as they weren't the best in the air."

The other benefit of bringing on Quinn is that Damien Duff is allowed to move back to his favoured position wide on the left of midfield, where he was second only to Staunton as Ireland's star performer. Less effective was Ian Harte, whose defensive fallibility was again shown up and will be relished by Spain on Sunday in the countries' first meeting since the Spanish won 3-1 in Dublin nine years ago.

"Spain are potential winners," the Republic's manager, Mick McCarthy, said yesterday. "Nine points from the group, I think that tells its own story, they are a top side. But we are here to have a go. I would hardly think Spain are relishing the prospect of playing us. They will look at us and think they have got a very difficult game coming up."