‘We want our own piece of history now’
concerns lie. The Republic of Ireland have beaten Italy and drawn with world champions Germany during his time in charge, but have scored just four goals at home during qualifying. O’Neill insists his team will be more attack-minded than during the first leg, and added: “We have to find a way to win the match and these players have been able to do that in the past. “They have fantastic spirit and it’s important to have that. This side is made up of certain components and that is a very strong element of it. It’s inbred in them and also in the country. “It shouldn’t everything because you have to play as well but if you’ve got that element, it can overcome a number of hurdles. “We don’t have all the skills that maybe other nations have. We have to find it in different manners.” Since Robbie Keane retired, the Irish have not had a natural goalscorer to call upon. Shane Long, who is in line to replace Daryl Murphy up front, has not found the net in his last 29 appearances. His last be goal for either Southampton or Ireland was at Sunderland in February.
O’Neill said: “There have been great players who have played for Ireland who have not been prolific.
“You have Robbie Keane out on his own [as record goalscorer] and the next one to him is someone who might have forced a corner or something like that!
“We have to find the net and we think we’re capable of doing it. It won’t be easy. We find everything tough. It’s the nature of us.
“But these lads have come up big in matches like this and we’re hoping to do it again.”
REPUBLIC (4-3-3): DENMARK Referee: