The Republic of Ireland squad submitted to FIFA on 21 May, 2002 was:

Goalkeepers: 1. Shay Given (Newcastle United), 2. Dean Kiely (Charlton Athletic), 3. Alan Kelly (Blackburn)

Defenders: 4. Steve Staunton (Aston Villa), 5. Steve Finan (Fulham), 6. Kenny Cunningham (Winbledon), 7. Gary Breen (Coventry), 8. Ian Harte (Leeds), 9. Gary Kelly (Leeds), 10. Richard Dunne (Manchester City), 11. Andy O'Brien (Newcastle)

Midfielders: 12. Jason McAteer (Sunderland), 13. Roy Keane (Manchester United), 14. Mark Kinsella (Charlton), 15. Matt Holland (Ipswich), 16. Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland), 17. Mark Kennedy (Wolves) , 18. Lee Carsley (Everton)

Attack: 19. Robbie Keane (Leeds), 20. Niall Quinn (Sunderland), 21. Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace), 22. Damien Duff (Blackburn), 23. David Connelly (Wimbledon)

Steven Reid later replaced Mark Kennedy (unfit) in midfield
 

                 
               Ireland left back, Ian Harte         Ireland striker, Robbie Keane

Ireland had one of the toughest World Cup 2002 qualification groups and came second behind Portugal but ahead of Holland (Holland therefore did not qualify) - Ireland then had a play off against Iran and won 2-1 on aggregate over the 2 legs.

Ireland's qualification results were:
Holland 2 Ireland 2 (Robbie Keane, McAteer)
Portugal 1 Ireland 1 (Holland)
Ireland 2 (Kinsella, Breen) Estonia 0
Cyprus 0 Ireland 4 (Roy Keane 2, Harte pen, Gary Kelly)
Andorra 0 Ireland 3 (Harte pen, Kilbane, Holland)
Ireland 3 (Kilbane, Kinsella, Breen) Andorra 1
Ireland 1 (Roy Keane) Portugal 1
Estonia 0 Ireland 2 (Dunne, Holland)
Ireland 1 (McAteer) Holland 0
Ireland 4 (Harte, Quinn, Connolly, Roy Keane) Cyprus 0

Play off 1st leg: Ireland 2 (Harte pen, Robbie Keane) Iran 0
Play off 2nd leg: Iran 1 Ireland 0 (Ireland qualify 2-1 on aggregate)

On 23 May, Ireland's captain and best known player, Roy Keane (age 30) was sent home after a row with the Ireland manager, Mick McCarthy. He will not now take part in the World Cup which is a big blow to the Ireland squad as he would have been one of the best players at the World Cup. There were several events which led up to Roy Keane's expulsion from the squad:

1. On 14 May, Roy Keane missed Niall Quinn's testimonial match through injury (Ireland beat Sunderland 3-0)
2. On 16 May, Keane is fit to start against Nigeria but is injured in the second half  (Ireland lost 2-1 at home)
3. Keane is unhappy with the travel arrangements and facilities at Ireland's World Cup stay in Saipan
4. Keane has an argument with Ireland's goalkeeping coach Pat Bonner after being made to play in goal after the goalkeepers have been given a rest against Keane's wishes. Roy Keane says he is flying home.
5. After sleeping on his decision and talking to Alex Ferguson (Manchester United manager) and other close friends, Keane decides to stay (minutes before the FIFA deadline for squad submission on 21 May)
6. The next day Keane has a row with McCarthy and in an interview with the Irish Times newspaper he announces his retirement from International football after the World Cup and complains about the World Cup preparations
7. McCarthy organises a clear the air meeting on 23 May but it turns into disarray when Keane throws abuse at the manager and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). Roy Keane is told to go home and does so.
8. On 24 May, McCarthy says he will resign as manager if he is told to take Roy Keane back into the squad.
9. On 27 May, Keane gave a television interview saying that he wanted to come back into the squad.
10. The next day, McCarthy said that if Keane phoned him and apologised and the other players accepted this he could rejoin the squad. That evening, Keane said that the damage had already been done and did not apologise to McCarthy.

Ireland still have a good players without Roy Keane, including defender Ian Harte and striker Robbie Keane (pictured above). Steve Staunton has taken over as the Ireland Captain but FIFA would not allow a late replacement for Roy Keane as he was not injured.

On 25 May, Jason McAteer got a knee injury in the 2-1 win over Sanfreece Hiroshima (friendly game) - it was from a bad tackle from Tulio (from Cameroon) but McAteer recovered quickly to be fit for the first World Cup game.

Ireland are in group E in the World Cup along with Cameroon, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Cameroon were late arriving in Japan which has disrupted their World Cup preparations, Germany are not the force they were and Saudi Arabia are the underdogs in the group. Ireland therefore still have a very good chance qualifying for second stage of the World Cup 2002.

See Ireland's results in the World Cup 2002 here