Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BOLD KING COLE
Injured skipper Coleman tells team-mates to use victory over Italians in Lille as a blueprint on how to topple Austria again
SEAMUS COLEMAN says a Lille bit of belief will go a long way as Ireland chase down a World Cup finals spot.
The Republic of Ireland captain is unlikely to play again until next year as he recovers from the horror leg break he sustained against Wales in March. But last night he arrived at the team hotel in Dublin to play a supporting role behind the scenes ahead of Sunday’s crunch qualifier with Austria. And Coleman, 28, feels Ireland’s push for Russia will be boosted if the squad can summon the spirit of that famous night in Lille last summer. Coleman was made captain for the Euro 2016 win over Italy when Robbie Brady’s late, late header dramatically secured Ireland’s passage through to the Last 16. On the night, Coleman spoke of being “in the zone” and that’s the mindframe he feels will serve Ireland well in their five remaining games. “It’s a difficult phrase to explain but if you’re in the zone and 10 other people aren’t then it doesn’t matter – it’s a team game,” he said. “That night we knew we needed a result and you could feel the atmosphere in the changing room against Italy. “It’s hard to explain but you just felt something was going to happen, that it was going to be our night and that it would be a big night for players and fans. “It’s about being on the front foot, being positive, making the first tackle – just letting (your opponents) know that we’re not getting bullied today.” Coleman admits he’s not the type of captain to unleash the hairdryer on his team-mates – he doesn’t rant or rave. Filling Robbie Keane’s boots was daunting but Coleman has come into his own in the short period of time he has worn the armband. In Lille, team-mates spoke glowingly about Coleman’s spine-tingling rallying call in the pre-match huddle. Coleman said: “I was delighted to get the armband. “It gave me something inside that you can’t explain. “Standing in that tunnel before you go out with the captain’s armband is a feeling that will never leave me.” Alas, Ireland must plan without him on the pitch this Sunday and whether he rallies the troops with a dressing-room team-talk before the game remains to be seen. But the fact the crocked captain wants to be around the squad at this crucial time is significant and a mark of the man himself. Recalling the night in Lille, Coleman said: “We knew what we had to do and everyone had that feeling that they thought something was going to happen.” Coleman added: “We’ve got two great people in charge, the boss and Roy who make sure we’re on it as soon as we meet up. “I fully believe that we can qualify out of this group and, please God, give Irish fans another summer to remember.”