The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Republic expected to step up once again
PLAY-OFF: Meyler full of belief for second leg with Denmark in Dublin
David Meyler is convinced the Republic of Ireland will be heading for the World Cup finals in Russia.
Ireland take on Denmark tonight having emerged from the first leg of their play-off in Copenhagen with a 0-0 draw and knowing their dreams will live or die on what happens at the Aviva Stadium.
Martin O’Neill’s men have produced their best when they have needed it most during the manager’s four-year reign, beating Germany, Italy and, just last month, Wales when the alternative was simply not an option, and Meyler is expecting more of the same this time around.
The Hull midfielder said: “This is stuff you dream of as a kid. Everybody wants to play at a World Cup and we are 90 minutes away from it.
“If you look back at when we started the campaign with Serbia away, this is where we wanted to be, this is the goal.
“The Euros was a great experience and we can draw on that, but we need to just go and perform tomorrow night and I believe fully that we’ll be going to Russia.”
That will be easier said than done with Denmark, who are ranked seven places above the Republic by Fifa, still smarting from the stalemate at the Parken Stadium, where keeper Darren Randolph repeatedly denied them.
O’Neill’s side has been vaunted for its durability rather than its easiness on the eye with Denmark midfielder Thomas Delaney admitting trying to break them down was like attempting to “open a can of baked beans with your bare hands”.
The former Celtic boss knows a different approach may be required this time around with a score draw enough to send the Danes through, but he makes no apologies for playing to the strengths of his players.
He said: “It would be lovely to have a prolific goalscorer in the side that you can turn to. If you don’t have that, then you have to try to find other ways.
“That is what we have been trying to do, we have been trying to find ways for the last couple of years to win matches when we don’t maybe possess that (goalscorer).”
He added with a smile: “It was a shame that when I came in here, Robbie Keane was the same age as me, unfortunately.
“We haven’t had that and we have to try and find other ways to do it. But there is a terrific spirit in the camp, a great never-say-die spirit and we have to take it one more time.”
Should the game finish 0-0, extratime and possibly penalties may be required to separate the sides and O’Neill also revealed Ireland have prepared for that eventuality.