Suspended Kenny still leading by example

KENNY CUNNINGHAM’S determination to travel with Ireland's football team to Switzerland for the critical European Championship tie came as no surprise.

Ireland's team captain cannot play in the game on Saturday in Basel because of the suspension he incurred after picking up two yellow cards in the course of the competition.

It seems a particularly harsh punishment for Cunningham to have to miss such a big match because of two minor infractions. But such are the rules and his second booking, in the last competitive match against Russia, was justified as he pulled down a Russian forward as he broke clear on goal.

Cunningham is a thoroughly decent person, forthright and honest in his dealings with the press just as he is in his playing performances. It is significant that his club manager, Steve Bruce, should sing his praises at every opportunity.

His request then to Ireland manager Brian Kerr to be allowed join the travelling party to Switzerland was entirely predictable.

This is a player whose pride in wearing Ireland's international shirt transcends all other considerations. He has never failed to report when selected, even for the most routine of friendly matches.

Indeed he would take issue with me for that last statement.

Any match in which players are asked to represent Ireland is important in his view; any invitation to add to his 50 international caps an honour to be cherished.

Cunningham is 32 years of age now and will never be one of the so-called 'superstars' of the game. Indeed he is so disparaging of his own ability that he routinely under-states the importance of his contribution to Ireland's cause.

Such admirable modesty in a player who came late on the international scene in 1996 should not be mistaken as a sign of weakness.

He is a formidable opponent in competition and, as captain of the team, a leader of rare commitment and tenacity.

Yet it is fair to say that it is only in the past 12 months the press in general and the public have come to a full recognition of the quality of his play. You will remember he missed the lead-in to the World Cup finals because of injury.

He was used as substitute during the tournament while Gary Breen and Steve Staunton held down the centre-back positions.

He came into the team early in the final match against Spain when Staunton was injured and he has remained first-choice since, a development that was helped by the retirement of Staunton.

Cunningham's potential was first recognised by Ireland's former manager Mick McCarthy, who picked him for Millwall and then promoted him to the international squad.

Brian Kerr deserves full credit for helping to turn Ireland's fortunes round in the current championship after they had lost their first two matches to Russia and Switzerland.

But it is interesting to see Kerr wrestle, in his first year in charge, with the same problems that McCarthy confronted. And it is even more interesting to see how consistently he has settled on the same solutions that McCarthy favoured.

McCarthy was regularly criticised, for instance, for pairing Damien Duff with Robbie Keane at centre-forward. There were many who called for Duff to be played as a left-winger in preference to Kevin Kilbane.

Now there is more general acknowledgement of the value of Kilbane to the team, even if his strength in the air and the part he plays because of this in offering goalkeeper Shay Given a target for his clearances is seldom recognised.

Now the suggestion that Kerr should solve the problem Ireland have on the right of midfield by playing Duff there has suddenly become fashionable.

Yet when McCarthy played Duff on the right wing in the World Cup tie against Spain in Suwon he was heavily criticised.

The reality is that 12 months down the road after the departure of McCarthy, Ireland still have not found solutions to some of the problems that limited our impact in the Far East.

The truth is Ireland must continue to invest hugely in emotional and physical terms to make an impact at international level. Which is why the attitude of Kenny Cunningham in this, as in every other instance affecting his involvement with Ireland, is so encouraging.