Dallas will be aiming to bounce Czechs!
STUART DALLAS has called on Northern Ireland to bounce back from their heartbreak against Holland on Thursday by beating the Czech Republic tomorrow night.
Two stoppage-time goals in the Feyenoord Stadium saw the Dutch win 3-1 after falling behind to Josh Magennis’ 75th-minute goal.
It was a cruel blow for Northern Ireland as it left their Euro 2020 qualifying hopes hanging by a thread.
Michael O’Neill plans to use tomorrow’s friendly in Prague to give experience to some of his fringe players.
But Dallas said the defeat in Rotterdam makes getting a result important.
“That Czech game is a big game for us now,” he said. “We have to go and win that. We don’t want to go there and end up with another defeat.
“We want to win and get back on a winning streak. It’s up to us to bounce back. If you can’t get up for a game for your country, you’re in the wrong game.
“We’ll prepare as if it is a qualifier and it’s up to us to go and get a win.”
O’Neill will have one eye on next month’s final qualifiers as he prepares his team.
Northern Ireland will face Holland in Belfast before heading to Frankfurt for their final Group C fixture against Germany.
If Northern Ireland win both of those games they could still qualify automatically but March’s play-offs look to be their best bet now.
“It’s going to be a big ask,” added Dallas.
“We haven’t really talked much about the play-offs. We set out at the start of the group to give ourselves a chance to progress.
“And we’ve played so well in these last two games and haven’t got anything out of it.
“It’s a cruel game at times and unfortunately we are on the wrong end of two results.” RYAN GIGGS would love to unleash a bit of Welsh ‘R&B’ on Croatia tonight.
However, the chances of both Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale lining up at the Cardiff City Stadium appear extremely doubtful.
While Real Madrid ace Bale is fit and primed to lead Wales into an absolute crunch Euro 2020 qualifier, Juventus midfielder Ramsey remains a major doubt for the tie with a thigh strain.
The former Arsenal man did not travel to Slovakia on Thursday for Wales’ bruising 1-1 draw.
Instead he had round-the-clock treatment in a bid to be fit for tonight’s clash.
But despite that intense personal rehabilitation, Rambo is still struggling to prove he is ready for competitive action, according to Giggs.
Which, of course, is nothing new for the ex-Manchester United man.
Since assuming the Wales managerial reins in January 2018, Giggs has
had the luxury of starting a qualifier with stars available.
The Dragons boss, whose side are in dire need of three points to maintain their hopes of automatic qualification for next summer’s Euros, said: “Of course, it’s frustrating.
“Aaron has yet to play in any of the qualifiers under me – and you always want your best players out there.
“But that’s why when I took over I wanted strength in depth to handle these situations – and we’ve also got players who have come in and done a job in that position.”
Not that Giggs has completely abandoned hope that Ramsey, 28, will make a miraculous recovery.
The influential playmaker, who again trained separately on Friday, will be given a late fitness test.
On the eve of the visit of the 2018 World Cup runners-up, Giggs added: “We’ve not ruled Aaron out yet. He’s on a different schedule.
“He stayed back with the physio this week. We’re just giving him all the time we can. We’ve still got time so we’ll reassess and see how he is in the morning.”
Those are not the only selection dilemmas facing Giggs.
With barely 48 hours to recharge the batteries, he admits he may be forced to make some changes.
Wigan striker Kieffer
Moore, who scored
Wales’ goal in Slovakia, took a blow to the head – and Giggs will once again delay any decision on him.
“Kieffer, who I thought was a real handful on Thursday, was in the wars a bit,” Giggs added.
“Like the rest, we will assess him. But his head is fine.
“We want continuity but recognise that we might have to freshen up a bit.”
Group F leaders Croatia are favourites to finish top but Giggs is quietly confident his Dragons – fourth and six points adrift – can spring a shock on Luka Modric (left) and Co. “Obviously, what they have done in recent times has been amazing – as well as the talent they have,” said the former Wales winger. “Against most countries, they would be favourites because they have very special players.
“But we are at home, and have a good record there – that advantage balances it out. “And, of course, we have very good players ourselves.”
Whether Ramsey is one them this evening, though, remains the big question.