Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
O’neill: You have it all wrong Age
MARTIN O’NEILL has dismissed Age Hareide’s claims that France are no great shakes.
O’neill and the Denmark boss are old Norwich City team-mates and went head-to-head in the World Cup play-offs in November.
The Danes reward for pummelling Ireland is a finals group alongside France, Australia and Peru.
Hareide reckons Les Blues are not as fearsome a prospect as is often made out – but O’neill reckons he could be made eat humble pie in Russia.
Ireland face France in Paris tonight and O’neil said: “I know the Danish coach, I used to play with him and he’s a very nice man. But he wasn’t such a great player himself.
“It’s highly dangerous to talk about that. The French, individually, are well equipped and they have been strong now for some time.
“Maybe he’s referring to the feeling that the French are not always united, but they are very strong.
“When they get together they will be strong in this competition.
“They have as good a chance as anyone to win the World Cup.”
Ireland lost to France in the Last 16 of Euro 2016 despite taking an early lead and O’neill reckons they have kicked on again.
“Some of their players are more experienced now with that extra two years and they also have a point to prove,” he said. “Portugal in that European final is a big disappointment to them, particularly when Ronaldo goes off injured they would expect to win. But that didn’t happen, so they will have big determination to rectify that at a big tournament and they have very strong players.”