Recruited at considerable expense, Ireland’s coaching duo struggled to fire up the side early on in qualification but Ireland became an increasingly hard opponents, epitomised in Monday’s 2-0 victory that secured a 3-1 win on aggregate.
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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.
“It would be terrific if we could do it but we’re a long way from doing it. Bosnia are well capable of scoring and wiping out our away goal and suddenly they’re on the front foot”.
With club commitments pressing, a cluster of Irish futures could come into question sooner rather than later if tonight witnesses a Euro implosion.
Both are well into their mid-thirties and have been wonderful servants to the national team for more than a decade, but that will not sway O’Neill’s team selection.
He collected the ball wide on the right after it had skidded off the head of defensive midfielder Edin Cocalic and cut inside defender Toni Sunjic before thumping a low drive past Asmir Begovic and into the bottom corner for his fourth senior worldwide goal. “It puts a lot of things in perspective including football matches”.
In Ireland’s last five home matches, there have been just six goals combined.
He was due to play against Southampton last week, but was withdrawn from the squad on the morning of the game after a recurrence of the hamstring injury.
‘That’s tough luck, ‘ shrugged O’Neill.
Shay Given and David Meyler will once again miss out due to their ongoing knee injuries.
“It was a well-worked goal for them, but we are obviously disappointed about conceding so late on”.
Bosnia are attempting to make it to their maiden European Championship, having qualified for their first major tournament at the 2014 World Cup. Ireland spent much of Friday’s game on the back foot, stretching the gap between midfield and lone striker Daryl Murphy and as a outcome, Hoolahan was largely unable to get himself into the game and departed after an hour. The players will go on to the field with that knowledge and it would be no surprise if they took a cautious approach to pushing men forward. “He could cause problems to anybody”.
Dzeko’s 8 goal in qualifying means it is all to play for on Monday night.
Fans heading to the Aviva tomorrow night can expect much more increased security than is typical at big events in the stadium. Jonathan Walters, though, will lead the line as he is free from suspension.
“That gives us a better chance for rematch”.
Bosnia lost their previous UEFA European Championship playoff, against Portugal for EURO 2012.
The fog-shrouded point won by Republic of Ireland in Zenica on Friday has produced clarity in one sense.
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Prior to the first leg of the Euro 2016 playoff, the only other meeting between the sides took place in a friendly game played in Dublin back in 2012.
