THE World Cup dreams of Southampton's Rory Delap were left in tatters this morning when he was left out of the Republic of Ireland squad to travel to Japan and South Korea.

The 25-year-old was hoping to force an 11th hour claim for a place after featuring in the Republic's last outing against the USA last month.

Southampton's record-breaking £4million signing had forced his way into contention with a string of good performances for his club in the second half of the season.

But Delap, capped six times by his country, was called by Republic manager, Mick McCarthy, yesterday at his Sarisbury Green home and told the bad news.

McCarthy unveiled his 23-man squad at Dublin Airport this morning, and there were no surprises as he kept his promise to remain loyal to the players who had helped the team secure their place in the finals.

That meant heartbreak for Delap, along with Celtic midfielders, Colin Healy, Millwall striker Stephen Reid, Tottenham utility man Gary Doherty and Hibernian goalkeeper, Nicky Colgan.

"This is the most enjoyable squad I have ever had to name," said McCarthy.

"But there are always a couple of players you leave out who you have to tell, and it is a disappointment having to do that.

"It is not easy having to tell players they are not coming.

"I rang those five players yesterday to tell them. It was a cold way to do it, but it was the only way.

"Of course they were all disappointed because they all wanted to go, but they wished me all the best and I know they want us to do as well as possible.

"I also told them all that if I had any injury problems in the next couple of weeks then I may need to call on them."

Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane will captain the party, which includes veterans Niall Quinn and Steve Staunton on what is likely to be their swansong for the national team.

With 188 caps between them, both are heading into their third World Cup for the Republic.

And if Staunton plays four games in Japan and Korea - which would mean Ireland qualify for the knockout stages - he will become his country's first international to win 100 caps.

At the other end of the scale, many hopes will rest on Blackburn's exciting forward Damian Duff and Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison.

Also included, despite a difficult season at Leeds, where he failed to nail down a regular first team place, is Robbie Keane.

SQUAD: S Given (Newcastle), Dean Kiely (Charlton), Alan Kelly (Blackburn); S Staunton (Aston Villa), S Finan (Fulham), K Cunningham (Wimbledon), G Breen (Coventry), I Harte (Leeds), G Kelly (Leeds), R Dunne (Manchester City), A O'Brien (Newcastle); J McAteer (Sunderland), R Keane (Manchester United), M Kinsella (Charlton), M Holland (Ipswich), K Kilbane (Sunderland), M Kennedy (Wolves), L Carsley (Everton); R Keane (Leeds), N Quinn (Sunderland). C Morrison (Crystal Palace), D Duff (Blackburn), D Connelly (Wimbledon).

Wayne Bridge will know whether he will be on the plane to Japan with England when Sven-Goran Eriksson announces his squad in London on Thursday.

Bridge, who has won three England caps, is almost certain to figure, and he said: "Like everyone else, I am desperate to know, but it just means waiting a little longer.

"I am hopeful of being included, but I don't want to take anything for granted."