O’Neill warns Ireland: Don’t die wondering
MARTIN O’NEIll and the Republic of Ireland have been here before. Most recently it was in Cardiff, before that Vienna and Belgrade.
Now it is Copenhagen. The doubters ask the same questions and, without fail, O’Neill and his side find the answers.
This qualifying campaign sees Ireland unbeaten away from Dublin, an opening-round draw in Serbia followed by wins in Austria and Wales, where last month’s 1-0 triumph set up this World Cup play-off against Denmark.
Before that, in pursuit of a place at Euro 2016, there were draws in Germany and Bosnia — who they defeated in the play- offs two years ago — and who can forget the must-win showdown with Italy at the finals in France?
When it matters, Ireland produce. ‘We have overcome adversity in recent years and will do again,’ said O’Neill ahead of tonight’s first leg at Parken Stadion.
This, then, is not unknown territory. If anything, it is a domain in which they revel; Ireland are the underdogs.
‘ We’ve generally been up against it (during my time in charge) and we’ve come through,’ added O’Neill. ‘This qualifying group was even more difficult and we’ve had some big battles. We had to win the last two games and we’re here on merit. Now we have to do it again.’
They do not have to win tonight, of course. In fact, O’Neill will set out to make the contest as ugly as possible and a low-scoring draw will feel like a beautiful outcome should they board tonight’s flight to Dublin on level terms ahead of Tuesday’s return.
But Denmark are favourites. It was telling that they chose their best players, Christian Eriksen and Kasper Schmeichel, to preview the game last night. Indeed, there was an air of the Danes reinforcing their superior quality.
Glenn Whelan will be deployed to shadow Eriksen, not that the Tottenham star is too fussed about that.
‘I don’t mind if Ireland do it,’ he said with a sigh. ‘If they do then there will be more space for the other players to show the quality they have and we can take advantage of that.’
Such tactics will come down to a battle of wits between O’Neill and Age Hareide, the Denmark boss who played with his opposite number at Manchester City and Norwich City. Hareide also stayed under O’Neill’s roof. ‘ Since I was a better player I was earning more money and Age had no place to stay, so he stayed with me and I charged him very cheap rent,’ said O’Neill. ‘ He turned out to be a very good player, so I’ll send him a bill.’
Winning the play-off is worth £10million to football associations. For players, however, a World Cup is one ambition not motivated by finance.
O’Neill has told his squad they should not ‘ die wondering’ what it is like to play at a World Cup. It is time to defy the odds… again.