Ireland boss Trapattoni has resisted calling up his old guard of Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Damien Duff and captain Robbie Keane for the friendly with Serbia on August 15 as he looks to the future after the disappointment of Euro 2012.
McCarthy found himself in a similar situation after his side failed to qualify in his first campaign in charge, losing in a play-off with Belgium for the 1998 World Cup in France.
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