I can’t end on such a low
WALTERS VOWS TO PUT WORLD CUP WOE BEHIND HIM AND PLAY ON
JON WALTERS says he could never pack in his Republic of Ireland career on a downer.
The striker told Martin O’neill last month he would shelve retirement plans in the hope of driving Ireland to Euro 2020.
And while he hasn’t played since early January, Walters is targeting a role in Ireland’s summer friendlies against
France and USA.
He missed the latter stages of the World Cup qualifying campaign through injury and was tormented watching the nightmare play-off defeat to Denmark.
But it was just the spur Walters needed to row back on calling it quits and to give it one more go in green.
While Daryl Murphy and Wes Hoolahan, inset, retired from international football in the wake of that Danish Pasting, Walters’ decision to stay on is a boost for O’neill.
The manager may be blooding newcomers in attack like Sean Maguire and Scott Hogan but Walters’ vast experience could be vital.
And yesterday he outlined his reasons for staying on and revealed the pain of that World Cup elimination was indeed the trigger. Walters told ‘Off The Ball’: “The plan was we were going to get to the World Cup, it was going to be great and I probably would have retired at the end of it.
“It would have been the pinnacle, getting to a World Cup.
“Myself and Seamus Coleman went to the Wales game – it was unbelievable and I’ve never been so nervous watching a match.
“And to go to Denmark and get a 0-0 away, I thought, ‘brilliant, bring them home’, but it just didn’t happen.”
And Walters added: “To have such a low like that when you’re not playing, I couldn’t have left it like that.”
After lengthy knee problems that resurfaced in September’s draw in
Georgia, it remains to be seen what role
O’neill sees
Walters playing.
He will be 36 at Euro 2020 – where Ireland will play at least two games in Dublin if they qualify – and with those fitness concerns, he may take on a supersub role.
But he has no qualms being a guiding light for the likes of Maguire and Hogan ahead of upcoming friendlies with France and USA and the Nations League kick-off in September.
Speaking to ‘The Keith Andrews Show’, Walters said: “I think I can help. I believe in myself. I think I can do a job. I’m still fit. I’m still in good nick.
“Hopefully towards the end of the season I’ll be involved. Going into the summer, it’s a big two years. I think I can do a job and help the boys who are coming through.”