How can we stop Bale? Zlat’s the way to do it
IRELAND v WALES Seamus sure Irish can keep Welsh superstar quiet like they did with Ibra at Euros TONIGHT, DUBLIN, 7.45 Coleman can’t risk defeat so take draw
SeAMUS COLeMAn wants the republic of Ireland to do to Gareth Bale what they did to Zlatan Ibrahimovic at euro 2016 to strengthen their grip on World Cup Group D.
The talk in the days ahead of tonight’s clash with Wales in Dublin has been mostly about the Real Madrid star and how group leaders Ireland will cope with him.
But having seen his team tame Sweden’s Ibrahimovic in Saint-Denis as they launched their Euro 2016 finals campaign in France last summer, skipper Coleman is confident they can do the same to Bale.
He said: “We have played against big-name players in the past – when we played Sweden in the summer all the talk was about Zlatan and it’s the same this time. But we are fully focused on our job.
“We know Bale’s world-class and we are going to have to be careful and get tight to him in certain areas but we can’t just fully focus on him.
“They have a lot of good players and anyway we need to make sure they worry about us as well.”
Coleman needs no reminding of just how good Bale can be, having had to deal with him in the wake of one of his finest performances in a Spurs shirt back in October 2010.
Three days after the former Southampton trainee had scored a Champions League hat-trick against Inter Milan at the San Siro, Coleman and his Everton team-mates travelled sport@dailyrecord.co.uk to White Hart Lane and secured a 1-1 draw.
He said: “When he was doing really well against the likes of Inter Milan I was a right midfielder and whenever we played them it was a doubling up job with Phil Neville. It had to be done. But he’s really kicked on and he’s gone on to great things.”
Ireland boss Martin O’Neill was giving nothing away on his plans to shackle Bale but admitted the 27-year-old Welshman could hurt his side.
O’Neill said: “Of course there will be times in matches when great players extricate themselves from difficult positions and cause problems – that’s why they are great players.
“It’s that type of thing we will try to cut to a minimum. But being a brilliant player, he will cause us problems.”
Meanwhile, O’Neill feels James McClean is ready for the game despite a difficult week off the field.
The 27-year-old West Brom midfielder was devastated to learn of the death of close friend and Derry City skipper Ryan McBride at the weekend.
McClean was given leave to travel to from the Irish training base to his native Derry to pay his respects to the family on Tuesday ahead of yesterday’s funeral but his manager says he is now fully focused on tonight’s game.
O’Neill said: “James was devastated because he knew the lad well but he is now fully focused on the game.”
McClean is an influential player in O’Neill’s team, scoring twice in the 3-1 qualifier victory in Moldova in October and then netting the goal in a 1-0 win in Austria in November.
His pace and trickery could prove key against the Welsh with Robbie Brady suspended and playmaker Wes Hoolahan among a catalogue of injured men.
That could also offer an chance to Everton winger Aiden McGeady, who will hope to win an 87th senior cap after reviving his club career on loan at Preston. MIDWEEK
CARL ASKEW We know Bale is world class so we’re going to have to get tight to him SEAMUS COLEMAN
although the Irish will be without first-choice centre-halves Shane Duffy and Ciaran Clark.
No scorer pays 6-1 at William Hill while 1-1 is 11-2 with McBookie.
Ireland are favourites at 31-20 with Paddy Power but there’s little between the sides. Wales are 12-5 at betfair and I’m on draw at 21-10 with bet365.
Coleman is relieved to have Gareth Bale back and the Real Madrid man will be a popular choice to score first at 21-5 with Marathonbet and any time at 13-10 with bet365.
Elsewhere Iceland look value at Kosovo who have lost three in a row to nil, conceding 11 goals. To win without conceding they are 13-10 at Paddy Power.
Super Single Ireland v Wales draw