Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has praised the abilities of frontman Jonathan Walters ahead of the second leg of the country’s Euro 2016 playoff clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday.
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Robbie Brady had fired Ireland into an unlikely 82nd-minute lead at the fog-swathed Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica after the home side had dominated in front of a hugely partisan crowd.
Long, who has not played any football since limping off in Poland on October 11, could prove vital with Daryl Murphy, who started in Zenica, sitting out training on Sunday with a calf injury, although O’Neill confirmed that was purely precautionary.
One loyal servant who seems certain to be included from the start is Jon Walters, who missed the first leg through suspension.
A goalless draw will be enough for Ireland to join England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the European Championships in France next summer.
“I don’t think the advantage is with us”, said O’Neill. Bosnia have better players than Ireland but they struggled to establish any sort of dominance in this game on Friday and if they dont play a more composed game in Dublin on Monday they simply will not come away with a result.
O’Neill said: “We might be lacking in certain things, but in terms of desire to want to go out, compete and stay with it, that sort of performance tonight epitomises that”. “It’s going to be a tough game for both teams for sure, we have got the away goal, but we’ve got to go out there as if it is 0-0 and we’ve got to go again and concentrate on Monday night”.
“I wouldn’t have thought that, with the recurrence in his hamstring, he would be anywhere near available”, he said.
“I don’t think the advantage is with us just because we have an away goal, because Bosnia are capable of scoring a goal”. I think the players have wanted to play. We played really well. If Pjanic is allowed to play in a more forward role, he has the potential to cause Ireland all sorts of problems.
“I think the motivation is there”.
He said: “John has done a significant amount of work during the week which is fine, Shane perhaps less so”. 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.
“It’s about trying to execute as much as possible and as well as possible and then we will see where it takes us in the end”. Robbie Keane has been absolutely brilliant, Sheasy pushing to get back involved last night, Shay.
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Ireland finally began to get into the game as an attacking force but on 31 minutes a quick counter attack by Bosnia saw Dzeko put Lulic in behind and his deep cross from the right was half cleared to Zukanhovic at the edge of the area but his header went straight to keeper Randolph.
