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Tommy Smith ordered to take on world by Mick McCarthy
Roy Keane famously flew home early from the biggest competition in world football after a furious row with then Ireland manager Mick McCarthy – but Ipswich star Tommy Smith has the Irishman to thank for realising his own World Cup dream with New Zealand.
Smith was in two minds about accepting his World Cup chance with the Kiwis, fearing it would damage his club career with the Tractor Boys.
But despite Keane’s 2002 bust-up with McCarthy, the Ipswich manager ordered Smith to grab the opportunity with both hands.
The Macclesfield-born centre-back played a starring role for the Kiwis in their shock 1-1 draw against Slovakia last week and is now looking forward to taking on reigning world champions Italy in Nelspruit this afternoon.
Smith said: “Before I made my decision to play for New Zealand I asked him (Keane) for his thoughts. I thought that going away might have affected my chances with Ipswich in the future, but he told me that the World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and that you have to go for it.”
For Italy, anything other than a win against the All Whites would be unthinkable, but as Smith says: “Football’s a funny game. Anything can happen.”