SUNDERLAND midfielder Jason McAteer savoured the prospect of today's announcement of the Republic of Ireland World Cup squad and said: "It's the greatest show on earth."

The 30-year-old will be named with clubmates Niall Quinn and Kevin Kilbane to travel to Japan and South Korea for his second taste of international football at the highest level.

But McAteer, a late recruit to Ireland's 1994 squad, is hoping to play a major part this time around.

The last time he received a World Cup call-up, for the tournament in the United States, he was on a summer break in Majorca with Bolton Wanderers.

He recalled: "I had a little inkling that I might be going when our manager, Bruce Rioch made me stop drinking and keep on training while I was out there.

"Going to the World Cup was a great occasion and I totally enjoyed it. It was the most perfect scenario in which to play football - the organisation was unbelievable, the grass being cut exactly the same height, the training facilities, everything. It was the best."

He admitted: "This time it means a little bit more for me.

"In 1994 I didn't play in any of the qualifiers, just the warm-up games and I didn't even know if I was going to make the final 22.

"This time I've played in all of the qualifiers and I've grown with the squad over six years with Mick McCarthy and the lads.

"Because we've missed on on the last World Cup in France and the European Championships after the heartache and the absolute nightmare of play-off defeats in Belgium and Turkey, it makes this just a little bit more special."

Now a more mature and experienced player, McAteer believes he can play am important part in the Irish campaign.

He said: "The lads are going there feeling very confident - the likes of Damien Duff goes there with a lot more experience at international level, confident and with a chance to show what he can do.

"As a nation we're just happy to be there, that's the big thing. It has put Ireland back on the map and it's a chance to have a massive booze-up. It's going to be great!"

He added: "The saddest thing for the players back in 1994 was that we weren't able to sit in a pub in Ireland and watch the thing - that's what we wanted to do.

"The whole nation is geared up for it. There's a buzz about the place but there aren't any expectations, the fact that we're there is just about good enough."

But McAteer and the rest of the squad want to give the Irish something to celebrate.

He said: "We want to keep the dream alive for as long as we can, but it isn't like England - they need to win the thing to be a success.

"There's so much pressure on them and I feel sorry for them.

"People don't expect us to come back with that trophy and it's fantastic not to have that pressure on our shoulders."

But he added: "When we get out there, in-house, personally, we'll be expecting great things - we really are.

"We're hard to beat, the younger players are developing into world-class, international footballers, we're technically more aware than we were and we've got a great mental toughness.

"We were unbeaten for 18 games before we lost in Iran. If we do that again we'll win the World Cup and the European Championships!