CONFIDENT IRELAND IN HAZARD WARNING
MARTIN O’Neill wants the Republic of Ireland to silence Belgium and book their place in the last 16 after questioning the team spirit of the side ranked second in the world. The Irish camp were amused to hear the comments by the Belgium FA’s vice-president Philippe Collin, who said Ireland are three levels below his nation. That, though, has merely served as motivation for the Irish and O’Neill has challenged them to win in Bordeaux on Saturday and go a long way to booking their place in the last 16. ‘If we win against Belgium, I think four points would take us at least into a group of teams that might qualify,’ he said. ‘If we beat Belgium it would be a fantastic result.’ O’Neill believes Belgium boast the most talented squad here in France, but doubts their ability to play as a team. The Red Devils were beaten 2-0 by Italy on Monday and the fall-out from that has largely involved criticism of playmaker Eden Hazard, who was complaining about the ball not being passed to him when the Azzurri broke and scored their second. ‘Belgium have a real set of individual players, it’s whether they go and gel as a side,’ said O’Neill, whose team were held to a 1-1 draw by Sweden in their opening match on Monday. ‘But they have individuals capable of taking you on and beating you and they play in top-class company every single week. ‘They have the most talented squad at the tournament. Little Hazard is one of best players in the world. We have to cope with that.’ Meanwhile, Robbie Brady says the comments by Collin have been welcomed at their Versailles training base. ‘It always helps when people are talking like that because it just gives us that extra urge,’ said the Norwich defender. ‘Hopefully we’ll only be two levels behind them come the game! But it doesn’t bother me. We know what we are capable of and we know we are capable of hurting teams. ‘There’s nothing to fear.’