Mick McCarthy reflects on Ireland’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals and admits: “It was off the scale”.
He was ‘Captain Fantastic’ for that Italia 90 adventure and led the Boys in Green into the last eight showdown with hosts Italy in Rome.
And the former Ireland manager insists it is still the proudest moment in his football career.
McCarthy said: “Leading my country down the stairs as captain in a quarter of the World Cup for Ireland is still off the scale.
“It was the best moment of my life in football and probably the worst too in terms of when we lost because we played so well and absolutely thought we could win it.”
McCarthy told FAI TV: “We weren't arrogant but we were confident. We believed in ourselves and each other.
“It was the epicentre of Italian football, in Rome, almost in colosseum, playing the home nation and we still thought we would win.
“And but for Schillaci and some good fortune on their part and bad luck on ours, the result might have been different because it was a good game and we played well.
“It was the proudest moment of my career.”
