Duffy feels win is on if team club together

UNKIND observers might bill today’s match in Lyon as Champions League versus Championship, but Shane Duffy does not think what club you play for affects Ireland’s chances.

Blackburn Rovers defender Duffy was one of five starters in the win over Italy to play in the English second tier last season, while the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Olivier Giroud all dined at Europe’s top table. That, though, does not hinder a belief that hosts France can be eliminated in Lyon today.

‘Why not, eh? You never know. Football, especially this season, has been crazy. But you’ve got to be realistic. Obviously we believe within the group that we can do it and that the manager can get the best out of us to thrive on this stage,’ said Duffy (pictured).

‘The rewards of actually going and beating France are huge. It doesn’t get much tougher than that at this tournament. I’d fully back our squad to go out there and give everything they’ve got and surprise people with an upset.

‘Teams know it’s not going to be easy against us. We might not be favourites but it’s going to be a tough game to beat us. There will be less pressure on us in this game than the Italian game. It was win or bust but against France we can keep it tight.

‘I feel the best I’ve ever felt in my career. When you’re out there you get into this adrenaline rush. It gives you another level, you leave everything you have out there and [today] will be the biggest game of most of our careers, so we’ll take it to another level again.’

If Duffy sounds confident then it is partly because he knows he has the backing of one of the men he replaced on Wednesday, John O’Shea. It was the advice of the Sunderland man that eased his colleague’s jitters on in Lille.

‘He (O’Shea) was brilliant. He was talking about how at one stage, he was at this stage in his career where I am now. He was brilliant before the game, at half time, and after it,’ Duffy revealed.

‘He knows the game, he’s had an amazing career, winning Premier Leagues and European Cups, captaining his country whenever Robbie [Keane] isn’t around. And he couldn’t have been more supportive.

‘He just said, “I know you are going to do a great job for your country”. I didn’t feel I had to prove myself. I just thought “go out and do what you are good at, don’t change anything. Just try and enjoy it on the big stage”.’