McCarthy: 'I'll stand by my men'

Mick McCarthy has vowed to stick with the players who did the Republic of Ireland proud in the World Cup despite the 4-2 defeat in Russia.

The Euro 2004 qualifier ended in the worst result in the 68 games of McCarthy’s six-year reign.

It was the first time an Ireland team had conceded four goals in a game since a meaningless World Cup qualifier 17 years ago, when they lost 4-1 to Denmark.

However, McCarthy said: “This is the first bad day we have had at the office for a long, long time.”

He laughed off suggestions he might make changes for next month’s Group 10 qualifier at home to Switzerland, and added: “It was a bad day, but we were always going to have one at some stage.

“The only time I would be angry with them is if we didn’t compete or have a go, but that’s not the case here. They all had a right go and there has been no lack of effort or commitment, so how could I be angry with them?

“I am not going to go screaming or shouting at lads who have been so consistent for so long. Some days you don’t play as well as others and that for me is what it was about.

“Look back at this group of lads and how consistently they have performed over the last two years. There is not going to be major surgery or major changes and to suggest that would be ridiculous because they have been excellent.

“You could see how delighted Russia were to win, we have become a bit of a scalp – that goes with the territory.

“This result is finished now and it is what we do against the other teams. That is the way we have to look at it and that is the way I have always done.

Meanwhile, McCarthy believes the chasm which exists between Roy Keane and the Republic is “far beyond repair”.

It was inevitable the defeat in Russia would lead to questions regarding the rebel former skipper, who McCarthy so famously banished from the World Cup following a highly publicised training camp bust-up.

Ireland could have done with Keane in the Lokomotiv Stadium but McCarthy said: “Roy has a hip injury so he would not have been able to play anyway. But he has said he is not going to play.

“It is not going to change, that situation. I think the situation is far beyond repair. Roy tells everybody that.”