COLEMAN: WALES’ BIGGEST TEST
“We have a million miles to go, whatever people feel,” he said of the qualification drive for Russia.
Austria are in the horrors after a spate of withdrawals while their manager, Marcel Koller, faces the axe if they lose here.
Ireland’s win in Vienna last November was their most significant competitive victory on the road since beating Scotland at Hampden Park in 1987.
But last night, O’neill urged supporters to remove the green tinted glasses and take a closer look at that particular performance.
Determined to guard against cockiness, he said: “They started brightly and had us on the back foot for the first 15 or 20 minutes.
“We conceded corners early on and they were lively. The game settled down and Harry Arter, making his competitive debut, came into the game more and we started to find out feet.
“Eventually, it was a great win for us, a great win away from home – but it was never a comfortable win and Austria pressed us the whole way.
“So regardless of their formation and personnel, they have the players to adapt.
“We have to be ready to impose our own will on the game and be aware of whatever players they play.
“David Alaba is a very talented player, playing at a very big club [Bayern Munich] and is one of at least four players capable of turning the game for them.”
But sitting joint top of Group D, O’neill is more than satisfied at how the first half of this campaign has gone for his own charges.
When the draw was made in St Petersburg two years ago, Ireland – seeded fourth – managed to CHRIS COLEMAN has urged Wales to rediscover their “mental sharpness” if they want more tournament football. dodge the heavyweight bullets. Wales were top seeds but have found the going tough while Austria, at the time, were romping away with their Euro qualifying group. Serbia, who Ireland are level on points with going into tonight’s games, were the mysterious dark horses. O’neill, to be fair, has consistently said that whoever finishes ahead of them will win this group and secure automatic qualification. So Ireland have exceeded expectations and there is a growing giddiness about a first World Cup finals appearance since 2002. But mindful that Scotland felt
Coleman’s men face a tough game at Group D leaders Serbia today – without suspended superstar Gareth Bale (right). Four successive draws have left Wales’ hopes of the 2018 World Cup in Russia hanging in the balance.
Coleman says Wales must use memories of reaching Euro 2016’s semifinals as inspiration and rediscover their killer instinct. He said: “A little bit of focus at the right times in games, mental sharpness, that’s what we’ve got to get back.
“I’m not panicking because I think we’ve got enough to just touch those right buttons again.
“We’re not far away from getting back what we had to get to where we need to be to sample that whole experience again.
“It was absolutely amazing and that’s why it’s so hard to get to these tournaments.
“If we want to go and sample tournament football again, then we need to take care of business now.
“Hopefully we’ll have the focus, so that, if we’re
Serbia v Wales, tonight, 7.45