Denis Irwin likes Spain, and (surprise) doesn't like France

One of Ireland’s finest is in town, thumping for Manchester United’s July 16 game against Celtic at the sodded-for-the-occasion Rogers Centre. Denis Irwin was a big part of United’s glory days of the 90s and early 00s and was Ireland’s right back at the USA 94 World Cup, including that stirring 1-0 win over Italy in their opening match. I sat down with Denis, now working with Manchester United TV, at the Four Seasons Hotel on Thursday, to talk about World Cups come and gone, that moment last November (remarkably, he stays pretty composed) and United’s upcoming visit.

Pick it up after the jump...

Q: We tend to look at these matches like the one United will be here for as a cash grab for the teams, and they are that, but this is a long tour at five games and nearly three weeks. How important is it for the team and players from a game standpoint? 

A: It’s important for somebody like Owen Hargreaves, who hasn’t had a preseason in two years. If you get through preseason and the training and the games injury free and get some physical running under your belt, it can stand for you the reset of the season. You must play tough matches as well – I think it shows you how far the MLS has come. (Man United) playing Philadelphia and Kansas City, you’ve got Bolton coming over to play Toronto, right? Manchester City are coming, and Chelsea, there’s rumours Spurs are coming over here – it shows you that the MLS league is getting better.

Q: C’mon. Do you pay it any heed?

A: We know what’s going on. But obviously in Europe, when the big leagues are going on, that’s what you concentrate on.

Q: I thought maybe you’d be trying out at left back while you’re here.

A: I’m too old. I’ve done all that.

Q: Are you sure? You should see TFC’s left back. I think you should try out.

A: (Chuckles) How long have Toronto FC been around?

Q: Fourth year.

A: And they sell out every game, is that true? We passed the stadium on the way in from the airport. That looks pretty good...

Q: You look at some of these players at the World Cup this summer will have played 60-odd games in the season. You know that pace. What’s that like?

A: I played in the 50s and well over 60 if you include international games. It is a lot, and to expect an athlete to perform once a week and sometimes twice a week players do tire at this stage of the season. That’s why English clubs struggle in the Champions League. They’re out on their feet by the end of the season. There’s no respite in the Premier League. It’s so quick and so hard.

Q: Are you going to the World Cup?

A: No, I’m working it for RTE in Ireland. I’ll be in a studio watching.

Q: Oh yes, Ireland. Speaking of that, where were you back in November when it all happened? Did you manage to keep the sharp objects away?

A: I was actually walking part of the Sahara desert for charity, and I got a load of texts coming in – ‘you gotta see this’ kind of thing. It wasn’t till four or five days later that I went back and actually looked at the incident with Mr Henry. It was disappointing because it was the best Ireland had played under Trappatoni, and particularly in Paris. There’s no guarantee we were going to go through, but we missed the last World Cup too, so it’s disappointing even more. The World Cup’s a poorer place without us. We travel in numbers, we like a pint.

Q: So it’s anybody but France, that’s still the feeling in Ireland, right?

A: Oh yeah. Anybody but France – and England.

Q: That’s a given. Who is your tip?

A: I think Spain are the outstanding candidates. They’ve got the best players, the best squad – you’re going to pick up suspensions and injuries, so you need more than just 11. They were always known as a team that failed on the big stage, but having won the Euros recently, that will kick them on a bit. They’ll be under a fair bit of pressure, but if you look at their midfield there’s every chance a guy like Fabregas might not even play. They’ve got Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso, Fabregas … if Torres stays fit, Villa’s a goal scorer as well. They’ve got experience at the back, they’re got everything. Reina’s the top ‘keeper in England, and he probably won’t even play with Casillas there!

Brazil will be there, Germany might not be great but they’re mentally very strong and difficult to beat. The media in England expect (England) to get at least to the semis, with the draw they’ve got as well, the kinder half. But they’ve got a few problems injury wise. Argentina, you just don’t know what you’re going to get out of them but they’re obviously talented.

Q: What about a dark horse?
A: Portugal are a good side, but they’re in a difficult group. Maybe an African nation might be strong enough – I’m not sure they’re there yet. … I think Serbia could surprise a few. They’re hard to beat, they don’t concede many goals, Vidic is there – he missed the last World Cup, and they gave up loads of goals.

Q: You don’t see an Africa team? They’ve never had better conditions being at home, haven’t they?

A: It’s going to be wet and cold, their winter – Not sure that’s going to suit them. I think it’s the last World Cup since Argentina to be played in winter. That’ll suit the English, won’t it? Even though the altitude won’t. I don’t know if they’re there or not. They’ve been knocking on the door for a while. You look back at 98, 02, 06, they didn’t have the nous, the cleverness. Now you see more players. You look at the quality of players the Ivory Coast has – the Toure brothers, Drogba, Kalou, Eboue. They’ve got a good selection of players, but whether they have enough to win the game, I’m not sure yet.

Q: What do you remember about ‘94?

A: The heat. The first game at Giants Stadium (against Italy - see video link at bottom) – we had the wrong kit on, and the kitman didn’t realize it until we were out there so the game was delayed a bit. The team photo has only 10 players in it – Terry Phelan was in still getting changed in the dressing room. New York was having a heat wave and everybody was talking before that the stadium would be 66 per cent Italian. Instead it was 75 per cent Irish. It was just a great occasion – and instead of relaxing after we had to go to the racecourse there (Meadowlands) to go back and celebrate with fans.

Q: Since then, do you ever have to buy a meal in Dublin?

A: Well … I do get a few pints paid for, yeah. People still remember. It was a big moment. Actually, America’s probably at the stage Ireland was at when I was growing up in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Football was No. 3 to Gaelic football and hurling in the Irish sports. Jack Charlton came in – it was only then that football became the No. 1 sport. You’ve obviously got three or four other sports (here), but it’s good to see it’s growing and the league is up and running and doing well.

Q: How’s Roy Keane doing these days – I see he turned down a chance to do TV for the World Cup?

A: Roy did a great job at Sunderland, got ‘em up, kept ‘em up … but the culture of the moment is if you don’t get instant success, you don’t get time. Hopefully the people in charge at Ipswich will give him time. This is obviously going to be a big year for him. It’s a strange league, that championship. You’ve got teams that play good football, and others who just want to kick lumps out of each other. It’s not an easy league to get out of.

Q: Can he make it as a manager?

A: Yes. He’s young, he’s learning. He sets his standards very high. Without a doubt he was the best player I ever played with. His standards as a manager would be exactly the same.

Q: As far as TV, he once said he turned down the sound whenever the commentators were on.

A: I don't know about that. He’d do great on TV, I think. He’s opinionated, but at the moment he wants to concentrate on his managing.

Q: You’ve been to South Africa. What do you think of this World Cup – will it be a success?

A: It’ll be a success. There were question marks about American in 1994 and Korea/Japan in 2002. There’s always those. The stadiums will be finished. I’ve played in Jo’burg – it was fine. There’ll be a good atmosphere. They’ve got these things that make noise, what do they call them?

Q: The vuvuzela.

A: That’s it. I was talking to Bryan Robson, he brought his Thailand team over there to play South Africa recently and he told me the noise in the place was unbelievable. Too loud, he said, for his players to hear his instructions (from the sideline). That must be a recent thing. They weren’t around when I played there, they’re more recent. Last time I played there was in the 1990s, we played at Ellis Park, and I think that’s one of the stadiums now. Great place.

- C.Y.