NOT THERE YET
Road to Russia could end in disaster, cautions Walters
JONATHAN WALTERS has issued a stark warning to Republic of Ireland supporters already dreaming of next summer’s World Cup.
While Martin O’Neill’s side are joint top of Group D with Serbia and four points clear of Wales and Austria with as many games remaining, the 49-times capped international insists there is still time for a qualification disaster.
‘It’s been a long while since the country’s been in a World Cup but we’ve put ourselves in a good position. That’s all where we are. We could just as easily throw it away as get there,’ he admitted.
A crucial double header in September sees Ireland travel to Georgia before hosting Serbia just a few days later in Dublin and Walters reckons the picture will become much clearer after those games are out of the way.
‘We are where we are, four points [ahead] with four games to go, huge games in the next two games, they are all huge games but Georgia away is not easy and with Serbia at home we’ll have more of an idea of where we are.
‘We are pretty happy, if you’d asked if we’d be happy with this with four games to go, you’d have taken it.
‘I haven’t been to one (a World Cup), I have been to the Euros, I missed out on the last one so it’s massive for all the boys really, it’s the pinnacle, it’s where you want to play as a young lad.
‘Hopefully things go well here at Burnley, I stay fit and play and that can only benefit the international team going in when we are playing together.’
And with former Stoke City and Ireland team-mate Shay Given currently training with Macclesfield Town to maintain fitness, Walters admitted he would be delighted to be playing beyond his 40th birthday like the international centurion.
‘Shay could be a good backup in the Premier League because he has that experience. I’ll he extremely happy if I’m still playing at Shay’s age.’
SHAMROCK ROVERS have hope, and that’s all they can really ask for considering they looked dead and buried in the 90th minute.
Mlada Boleslav had a 3-1 lead courtesy of a Golgol Mebrahtu brace and Jan Chramosta’s header two minutes from the end of normal time, but the never-say-die attitude of this Hoops side was evident yet again with Graham Burke smashing home a lifeline in the 92nd minute.
Regardless of the late drama, only a stunning result in the Czech Republic next week will see the Dublin side overturn this deficit.
The visitors, and in particular Mebrahtu, put on a display of ruthless efficiency with strikes either side of half-time ensuring they have one foot in the third qualifying round.
The draw will be made today and for Rovers to have any hope of being involved beyond the return leg, they will have to summon something deep within themselves to cause an upset.
Despite their domestic campaign not beginning for another fortnight, Boleslav started much the better with former Reading midfielder and Czech Republic international Marek Matejovsky pulling the strings in the centre of the park.
The 35-year-old, on loan from Sparta Prague, was displaying all his experience by keeping the play moving quickly and ensuring his side stayed on the front foot.
With Tomas Prikryl a constant threat on that right flank the visitors looked dangerous, and it was from there they eventually created the opener.
But Rovers had been warned before that. Mebrahtu struck a powerful free-kick from a central position 25 yards from goal and, luckily for the Hoops, defender Simon Madden had retreated onto the line where he managed to make a clearance.
It was a 13th-minute let-off and Rovers didn’t get going at all until Brandon Miele stirred them into life with two cheeky nutmegs in the centre of the pitch followed by a rampaging run forward before failing to keep his left-footed shot under control.
A looping cross by Madden moments later almost dropped over the head of goalkeeper Jakub Divis but there was nothing fortunate about the manner in which the Czechs took the lead.
The impressive Prikryl delivered an inviting near post cross on the run and Mebrahtu didn’t have to break his stride as he guided the ball into the top corner with a precision header.
It was a fine goal and Rovers needed something even more sensational to get level. Burke was once again their source of inspiration, emerging for the second half after an anonymous opening 45 to drag his side back into contention with a looping shot on the turn which found its way into the top corner.
But not even that moment of magic was enough to act as a catalyst for a full-on Rovers revival and, as they continued to stutter their way through the second half, Boleslav made them pay.
And once again it was Mebrahtu who was there to pounce in the box, this time tapping in Jan Chramosta’s cross with 63 minutes on the clock.
There was half an hour to get back into it but all the drama came right at the very end. First, all hope looked to have been lost when Chramosta netted a tidy header in
the 88th minute.
Rovers, to their credit, threw everything at them for the remaining minutes and a scramble in the box led to Burke smashing home through a sea of bodies as the deficit was halved.
A crazy end with another 90 minutes still to play.