Cunningham driven by fear factor
Republic of Ireland captain Kenny Cunningham is hoping the fear factor will drive the team on to World Cup qualification.
Ahead of the Republic’s final two Group Four qualifying games, Cunningham insists there is now no room for error as they chase the six points that should clinch Brian Kerr’s side a play-off spot.
Facing Cyprus in Nicosia tomorrow, and Switzerland at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday, wins are now compulsory if Cunningham is to see how out his international career by leading his country to next summer’s finals in Germany.
With Kerr’s job appearing under threat, Cunningham concedes the pressure is on for a squad he feels has so far failed to live up to their billing.
But the 34-year-old Birmingham centre-back is naturally “optimistic”, and although he appreciates such a statement is an easy one to make, he then quantified his remarks.
“Because I’ve been in the squad for a long time and I know the qualities of the team, and in particular the character of the players, I am always optimistic when I go onto the pitch,” said Cunningham.
“Without a doubt there is quiet optimism, but there’s also a bit of apprehension in all honesty because we know what’s at stake and what we have to do. We know any more slip ups and it’s going to be all over for us.
“Facing that situation you go down one of two roads. Either the apprehension or fear will consume you before you take to the pitch, or you get the opposite reaction and it can bring the very best out of you, and hopefully that will be the case tomorrow.”
Despite the natural speculation surrounding Kerr, Cunningham insists such gossip is far from the players’ minds, knowing they have their own agenda.
“It’s not a distraction because any international or club manager has to deal with it pretty much on a week-to-week basis. It comes pretty much as part of the job,” assessed Cunningham.
“Brian accepts his responsibilities, and he knows what’s at stake, but in all honesty players are quite selfish creatures in moments like this.
“They look pretty much to themselves and to the opportunity of playing in a World Cup. That’swhat drives them on. They want a taste of it. They are not too concerned about what is going on on the periphery.
“But I can state Brian has the respect of every player. That’s without question, and I shouldn’t even have to say it.
“We’ve all been impressed by his determination and his passion for the team, and what he wants the country to do, which is to be at next year’s World Cup.
“We always meticulously prepare for these games. We are very much together as a team, and that’s probably the most important factor because without that you will achieve very little.
“So the question surrounding Brian hasn’t come up for discussion for those reasons.”
But the pressure is palpable, with so much stake for so many, and in the hands of so few, with Cunningham adding: “Pressure – that’s exactly what it is.
“We haven’t the luxury of saying ’one more mistake and we can still put things right in the group’. That’s clearly not the case going into this game.
“But it’s pressure as players you have to deal with, pressure that individual players face at club level week in and week out, particularly those playing for high-profile clubs.
“It’s part and parcel of the job and you have to deal with it. Invariably it’s the team that can deal with those pressures that comes out on top.”
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