With the build up to Saturday's game starting to gain pace Blazevic has high praise indeed for the Irish boss: "He's the best national coach on the planet - after me.
"I admire McCarthy. What he has done for the Republic of Ireland is phenomenal. It is a lot easier for Sven with the players he has. I saw England play Germany and Greece. It is impossible to understand how a team could be so different.
"McCarthy has built a more stable team and has given it more character than England have been able to show so far under Sven. To knock out a great country like Holland and equal Portugal on points says it all.
"They frighten me and, every time I watch them I get more afraid. My team need a miracle."
While McCarthy will welcome his counterparts comments he is likely to treat them with a pinch of salt and all part and parcel of the pre match games.