Long not willing to play blame game

SHANE LONG has urged his Ireland team-mates to put yesterday’s Belgian battering behind them for what he describes as an ‘all or nothing’ clash with Italy on Wednesday.

Only a win will give Martin O’Neill’s side any chance of progressing to the knock-out stages — but even that is not yet definite — and the striker is hopeful the Italians will put out a weakened team in Lille having already secured qualification from the group.

‘We’ll approach the Italy game knowing we have to win. They might rest a few players and it’s all or nothing at this stage,’ the striker said.

‘I think we can beat anyone. We’ve got a good record against the big teams, obviously not today but we’ll go out against Italy and try to cause an upset.

‘It would be amazing to go through against Italy on four points and that’s what we have to aim for. Nothing less will do.’

Long was in the wars against Belgium at the Stade de Bordeaux as he faced the thankless task of dealing with numerous hopeful balls aimed in his direction.

Referee Cuneyt Cakir gave him little protection and just before the Red Devils broke the deadlock early in the second-half, Long appeared to be kicked in the back of the head by Toby Alderweireld and also in the stomach by Thomas Vermaelen.

The Tipperary native was suitably annoyed after the final whistle but was careful not to criticise the Turkish official.

‘I can’t really say what I really want to say because I’ll probably get myself in trouble but it’s just disappointing. Anywhere else on the pitch I think I might have got a free kick and the fact they broke up the pitch and scored the goal makes it a little bit harder to take.

‘He obviously thought there was nothing there. He must have thought I was diving or something. I can’t really say what he was thinking. The pictures speak for themselves.’

The only service Long had to work with was hopeful punts from Ireland’s own half and he admitted he found it difficult to make his mark as a result.

‘It was a tough game. There were a lot of long balls and I was trying to throw myself about and waiting for something to break my way. It was always going to be tough once they went 1-0 up.

‘They have the two sitting midfielders in front and I was just trying to catch them in behind and hopefully Wes could get on the ball and slip a pass through but it just didn’t fall for us.’