RUSSIAN ROULETTE
Irish prospects hanging by a thread but O’neill says we’ll be on plane
MARTIN O’NEILL remains 100% convinced Ireland will be on the plane to Russia next summer.
Speaking less than an hour after Tuesday night’s disappointing Group D defeat at home to Serbia, O’neill put on a brave face in front of the press, even though the victors had moved four points clear at the top of the group, with Wales leapfrogging Ireland into second.
Ireland need to beat Moldova and Wales just to have a chance of getting into the playoffs, but after O’neill concluded his Sunday media duties he turned back at the Aviva Stadium tunnel door and said: “We’ll do it, believe me, we’ll get there”.
The manager cut a frustrated figure after the 1-1 draw in Georgia just days earlier, but was much more bullish after the home defeat to Serbia.
He predicts a tough time for Wales in Georgia in their next game, but most of all he was encouraged by his players’ response to their own travails in Tbilisi.
The performance against Serbia was superior to most given by the side in this campaign, even if they struggled to create clear cut scoring opportunities, and O’neill attempted to shield his players from any criticism. I told the players it’s me at the end of it all, I’m the one responsible for the side, I’m the one responsible for all of the things whatever – good or bad, that’s part of the game,” he said.
“It’s always been part of my life, both as a player and a manager for a long, long time.
“I take all these things to heart and I have done ever since I was 19, and I’m always last out of the dressing room, even as a player... it will be no different to me as I’ve got a lot older.
“But I’m ready, ready, seriously ready for it. And if I’m ready, then the players have to take their lead from me.”
O’neill will happily take second place in the group now, after picking up just three points from 12 in the last four qualifiers.
But he thinks there may yet be a twist in the tail with Wales heading to Georgia next month.
“I will tell you something now, that will be a tough trip, that will be a tough trip to go there,” he said.
“That will be a tough game, I’m not saying they’re not capable of winning when you’ve got someone like Gareth Bale in your side, you’re probably always got a chance, but that will a tough game. Regardless of what happens there, we have to win the two.
“We have to beat Moldova without thinking about anything else. “