The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Irish must not only deal with Bale: Coleman
Irish skipper is confident they can cope with all of the Welsh threats
Seamus Coleman has challenged 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 qualification.
Much of the talk in the days building up to tonight’s showdown with Wales in Dublin has surrounded the Real Madrid star and how best Group D leaders Ireland can cope with the danger.
But having seen his team largely becalm Sweden talisman 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 are a team which has played against big players in the past – I remember when we played Sweden in the summer, all the talk was about Zlatan and it’s quite similar this time.
“But we are fully focused on our job and looking forward to the game. Look, as I said, we were getting asked the same questions in the summer about certain players and you have got another 10 players on the pitch you have got to worry about.
“We know he’s a world-class player 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 Gareth Bale.
“They have got a lot of good players and we need to make sure they worry about us as well.”
Manager Martin O’Neill was giving nothing away on his plans to shackle Bale, but admitted there would be times when the 27-year-old Welshman would hurt the Republic.
O’Neill said: “Of course there are going to be moments in matches when great players extricate themselves from difficult positions and cause you problems – that’s why they are great players.
“It’s that type of thing that we will try to cut to a minimum if we can. But naturally being a brilliant player, he will cause us problems.”
O’Neill has spent the past few days mulling over his options with Robbie Brady ruled out through suspension and Shane Duffy, Ciaran Clark, Harry Arter, Wes Hoolahan and Daryl Murphy by injury.
However, Everton midfielder James McCarthy still has a chance of playing some part – no doubt to the consternation of club boss Ronald Koeman – after training yesterday for the second successive day as he battles his way back from a hamstring problem.
Wales boss Chris Coleman insists that defeat will not end his side’s hopes of qualifying.
“You get written off today, built up tomorrow – but we’re right in it,” Coleman said.
“The Republic of Ireland know it, make no mistake about that.
“People say it’s a must-win game for us, but I won’t be saying that. We’re not going into this game thinking it doesn’t matter, of course it matters.
“But there are 18 points to play for and a long way to go.