Ireland’s Jon Walters celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2016 play-off second leg soccer match between Ireland and Bosnia in Dublin, Monday, November 16, 2015.
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Where Ireland had contained in Zenica, they set out looking to attack on home soil with Begovic blocking one Brady cross with his legs and Zukanovic heading another away as the home side prospered down the left.
Ireland qualified for the European Championship finals in France next year when they defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the Aviva Stadium.
That result secured their place in France next summer and meant jubilant scenes on the pitch and in the stands at the final whistle.
“Mostly I’m delighted for the players, they have been absolutely fantastic, and if they hold in me in any sort of regard, it’s minuscule by comparison to the esteem I hold them in”.
O’Neill shuffled his deck before the hour, introducing the pace and energy of James McClean and Shane Long for the tiring Wesley Hoolahan and Daryl Murphy.
Ireland nearly increased their lead on 40 minutes after another neat build-up saw Hendrick deliver a superb cross which Begovic did well to gather under the challenge of Murphy.
But it was Walters who got the second when Robbie Brady’s cross was poorly dealt with by defender Ognjen Vranjes and the Stoke man stuck it in off the post. But Walters was not about to pass up the opportunity, sending former Stoke team-mate Begovic the wrong way to give the Irish a 24th-minute lead. Moments later Edin Visca ran onto a through ball and cut back to Senad Lulic, who miskicked in front of goal.
Bosnia responded well to going behind and Edin Dzeko flashed an effort wide before cushioning a header into the path of Haris Medunjanin, who volleyed over from the edge of the box.
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Substitute Vedad Ibisevic rattled the bar with a flying injury-time volley, but Ireland had done enough.
