Ireland’s O’Neill feeling upbeat despite defeat

DUBLIN: Ireland manager Martin O’Neill is confident his side can still qualify for the 2018 World Cup despite a damaging defeat at home to Serbia.

The 1-0 loss, courtesy of Aleksandar Kolarov’s second-half strike, pushed Ireland down to third place in Group D, with Wales’ 2-0 win in Moldova lifting them up to second.

Ireland face Moldova in Dublin next month before concluding their campaign against Wales in Cardiff and even two wins would not guarantee them a place in the playoffs.

But O’Neill, who guided Ireland through the playoffs to the Euro 2016 Finals, was in confident mood despite the first home defeat of his Ireland tenure.

“Absolutely not,” he said, when asked if the defeat spelled the end of Ireland’s chances.

“We can win our last two games, we can still make it. No doubt, I’m very confident we can win both games.

“I said that to the players in the dressing room.

“Obviously, we’ve a lot of disappointed players after that performance but it’s not big words from me, it’s how I feel. I think we can win both games.

Ireland were more impressive than they had been in drawing 1-1 against Georgia at the weekend but failed to seriously trouble Vladimir Stojkovic in the Serbia goal.

Daryl Murphy had a penalty claim but referee Cuneyt Cakir waved the appeals away.

“We need to beat Moldova and Wales now, and had you told me at the start of qualifying that we’d need to win the last two games, one at home, one in Cardiff, I’d definitely have taken it.”