Ireland, meantime, enjoyed a strong Euro 2016 campaign, finishing third in a group populated by sides of the calibre of Germany, Poland and Scotland before beating Bosnia in a play-off en route to reaching the last-16 of the tournament proper.
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“We said at the outset that we want seven points from our first four qualifiers”, O’Neill told Sky Sports.
“We came roaring back after they had turned the tide and I thought we deserved that draw”.
Ireland warmed up for their first competitive encounter since the game with France in Lyon with an utterly futile friendly global with Oman on Wednesday.
“I am delighted that we have got off the mark here in what was a very hard game for us”. “We set our team up to play that way so it was pleasing to see the players took that on board”.
Suspension keeps Kolarov and Matic out of the side for tonight’s game, giving their well-travelled boss Slavoljub Muslin (20 managerial jobs in eight different countries for the 63-year-old) a tougher task in fielding a side capable of taking points from Ireland.
“The two lads playing full-back play their club football in League One”.
Despite being a team in transition, the Czechs will surely consider this a missed opportunity, particularly after Novak’s miss, which Jarolim did his best to explain. After unsuccessful performance in qualifying, Serbia held a series of friendly matches, which lost to the Czech Republic 4: 1 Poland 1: 0, and also defeated Estonia 0: 1 Cyprus 2: 1, Israel 3: 1 and shared the points with Russian Federation 1:1. I don’t think we’d hold it against him if he did move on and manage a club.
Christie said: “Now our focus will go on to Serbia”. O’Neill blamed the “fatigue element” for his team’s lack of stamina after the break.
Serbia started the second half on the front foot but although at times Ireland were pinned back they defended well under pressure.
“It’s important to pick up results even when we are not at our best but we produced a high work rate and desire on the pitch”, the Southampton midfielder added.
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Paddy McNair, who was among those brought in from the side defeated by Wales in Paris, also looked lost having been switched from the right side of a midfield three to the left and back again within 21 minutes. “This group’s going to be tight”, said O’Neill.
