weeMac speaks to SBS on what it felt like playing

McGlinchey: Nothing compares

Central Coast Mariners midfielder Michael McGlinchey has played in some of the world's biggest football arenas but admits nothing compares to the feeling of qualifying for the World Cup, which he did on Saturday with New Zealand

McGlinchey was born in Wellington while his Scottish father was playing in the New Zealand national competition, and after growing up in Glasgow, the 22-year-old returned to the nation of his birth to link up with national team, which booked a spot in South Africa thanks to a 1-nil aggregate win over Bahrain.

�In a way I just feel relieved it�s happened and we�re through,� McGlinchey said.

�I just can�t quite get it out of my head that we�re going to the World Cup. I keep thinking there must be another hurdle or something, it�s taking quite a while to sink in.�

The diminutive midfielder made his Scottish Premier League debut at just 17 at the 60,000 capacity Celtic Park, but insists this was the best atmosphere he�s ever been a part of.

�It was surreal to walk out there and hear the noise, it was such a big occasion and to get a start I was delighted.

�That was the best atmosphere, and the biggest game I�ve ever played in. There was so much riding on the game.

�If you lost, you were sick, but to get the win was just unbelievable.

�I�m just looking forward to going to the World Cup now,� McGlinchey said.

And a world away, on a grey Glasgow Saturday morning, the McGlinchey clan may have some answering to do with their neighbours, after raucous celebrations at their son�s achievement.

�They�re delighted,� said McGlinchey. �It was 7am when the game was on and the whole family went down to my mum and dad�s to watch it.

�There was champagne popped at nine o�clock in the morning once we had won, and they�re delighted for me.�

The World Cup hero will return to the Mariners on Saturday as they complete a six week tour of duty away from home with a trip to Dairy Farmers Stadium to take on North Queensland Fury, and McGlinchey hopes the experience of the past week will hold him in good stead for the rest of the A-League season.

�I�m looking forward to the game. I missed the chance to play them last time because I was away, so I�m looking forward to playing them, and hopefully we can continue the good form from last week," he said.

�I think it will give me a lot of confidence to see the season out with the Mariners. We�re doing pretty well so hopefully that can continue.

�I�m looking to win the League and the Grand Final with the Mariners. I�ll be trying to put the World Cup to the back of my mind for now and focus on the League, but it�s going to be hard!�

As for preferred opponents in South Africa, there�s one obvious choice for the boy born in New Zealand, but raised in Scotland.

�I�d like to get England. All my football heroes, like Steven Gerrard, play for them, so I�d like to get them,� McGlinchey said.