Republic may pay for lack of a leader

It's difficult to know what state of mind the players are in after everything that's gone on. If you asked any of them whether they were really convinced they can qualify from this group of course they'd say "yes, no problem", but, subconsciously, I'm sure everyone is thinking, "Christ, we wish Roy Keane was here".

Yes, everyone's now bored with the story, and yes, we'll come out with that fighting spirit against Cameroon and we'll be difficult to beat. But whether or not we're actually convinced that we can get a point from Cameroon, let alone beat them, I have my doubts.

One of the biggest single factors in our qualification was the collective performance of the players - bigger than the sum of their parts and all that. The squad has always had the ability to replicate a club spirit, which has been brilliant. Once we knew Keane wasn't going to come back we knew the players would close ranks and you would like to think they've got stronger - the problem is they're now without their best player, the leading light, the talisman.

Of course Mark Kinsella and Matt Holland can be very, very effective, but Kinsella and Holland aren't Keane and Holland or Keane and Kinsella. Keane had the ability in the qualification games to raise everybody, not just himself, by his performances. If you look around the team now I don't see anyone who can do that. I see strong personalities, I see good players, but I don't see anybody who's going to shake fists, wind everyone up. Steve Staunton's not a leader by nature, he's more of a reactor.

There is no doubt that Mick McCarthy has always had the team ready for games, we've never been found wanting that way, but I believe that the five, 10, 15 minutes prior to leaving the dressing-room tomorrow will be his most important time as team manager.

There'll be a bit of the Wimbledons about it, "nobody rates us, everybody hates us, nobody thinks we can do it"; it's one good way of getting a reaction from the players, but, more importantly, I think McCarthy will just be stressing the fact that for some of them it's their first World Cup, for a few it will be the last, so whatever happens make sure you give it absolutely everything you have.

On Sunday Cameroon looked an extremely strong, cohesive, powerful unit, and made England look inferior at times. Apart from one player the team that started was the one that won the African Cup of Nations, so they've got continuity and, now, they've actually got a little bit of belief - so that's what we're up against. The way the dice have been thrown I think it will be our hardest game. Given what's gone on, as well, it makes it even harder for us.

Their back three looks strong, tough and pacey - even Rigobert Song looks a good player and that's saying something. I thought the wing-backs were outstanding, the system they played looked very, very good, gave them width, they had fantastic movement from the midfield five, as it were, and the two lads up front were big, strong, very, very quick - they're not going to be shaken off the ball.

It sounds like I'm building them up in to a very, very good side but I think they have the ability to become one, I really do. The two glimmers of hope are, 1) the goalkeeper, who looks really poor, especially with crosses, and 2) there's always that doubt with an African team, that their B team might just turn up on the day.

Roy Keane's absence has raised the stakes for Damien Duff and Robbie Keane. I think Robbie's got a bit of his swagger back, he's started to score goals lately and that kind of belligerence, that transformed him from being a good player to a very good player, seems to be back too. Duffer looks like he has the ability to do whatever he wants, assuming it's channelled in the right direction and he gets the service - our passing has to be top class. You might get 20 minutes or half an hour out of Niall Quinn, but you have to stick with Duff and Keane up front.

The other big question is how hot and humid is it going to be - if it's both it's a factor for Cameroon and a major worry for us.

I just feel negative about the game, to be honest. I would take a point this minute, I would snap the hand off the Cameroon manager if he offered it - and I think, privately, Mick would too. With what's gone on they would be delighted with a draw, they'd have played a game, taken a good point and they could go forward from there. In my mind Cameroon should be favourites to win the group, and not Germany, so I expect it to be our toughest game of the three. I've a feeling it will be one of those games where you'll need a cushion handy to hide behind occasionally.

(In an interview with Mary Hannigan)