insists Ireland are in it to win it against Switzerland tomorrow - but claims it is not a free shot.
And the Ireland boss won’t complain if his team leaves Geneva with just a point.
Ireland will qualify for Euro 2020 with a game to spare if they beat the top seeds at the Stade de Geneve.
Up to 3,100 Irish fans will be in attendance with 22,400 tickets sold so far for the tight 26,000-capacity stadium.
A draw or defeat means the Boys in Green would then have to beat Denmark at home next month in the final game to advance automatically.
McCarthy said: “I think we're in a good position. That's how I feel. Just because we're 90 minutes away doesn't mean to say it's going to happen.
“You can say it and make everyone feel good about it, but we have a hell of a task tomorrow night to make sure that happens playing against the best team in the group.
“We’ll approach it trying to win it, that’s what we’ll do. It’s far from a free shot.
“We’ll approach it as we would have approached it before, and try to win the game. They were excellent against Denmark. We’ll give it our all and try to win the game.”
Skipper Seamus Coleman insists he would have taken this position at the start of the group.
“I think so because it's a tough group,” he said. “Switzerland and Denmark are two very, very good teams.
“One of the Swiss journalists touched on it there, we have conceded just two goals.
“Playing the last two games we have to be positive and if we get a win, it will have been an unbelievable campaign.
“I fully believe, like I do every time I go out in that green shirt, that we can get a result and no better place than here with the Irish fans over.
“As the manager touched on, these are a world class team but I believe that can be the case.”
And Coleman says he would back Ireland’s defence to hold out if they take a lead in the game.
The Everton ace continued: “It's going to be tough against a team like this.
“Look, we have played at this level for long enough to know it's hard enough to defend for 90 mins against these top teams and keep a clean sheet.
“If we go 1-0 up, I would back us but it would be a very tough job. Tomorrow night on the pitch is where the talking will be done and hopefully we can be happy after it.”
Ireland have no fresh injury concerns and McCarthy again strongly suggested that Aaron Connolly will start the game - but not as a lone striker.
“I wouldn't want him to be isolated up there, that's for sure,” he said the Brighton teenager.
“They play three at the back and I think putting Aaron up on his own would be a big ask on his first full start.”
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