‘We are a bit like Portugal’
MARTIN O’NEILL has urged the Republic of Ireland’s critics not to forget their heroics in France as they try to book a trip to another major tournament.
Ireland laboured to an unconvincing 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Georgia in Dublin on Thursday to leave themselves level on points with Wales, Serbia and Austria in Group D.
However, while O’Neill’s detractors have turned out in force in the wake of a performance which even the manager admitted was not up to scratch, particularly in the first half, he has reminded them that it is only a matter of months since his team was mixing with Europe’s best at Euro 2016.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of today’s clash with Moldova in Chisinau, the 64-year-old said: “We’re not the type of team that is going to wipe the floor with people, we have to fight for everything, we know that ourselves and tomorrow night will be a big test again for us.
“It’s not a case of raising ourselves against the best opposition. Everybody goes through these periods, even teams like, for instance, Portugal.
“Portugal won the competition, went out and then lost to Switzerland.
“We can play better, we know that – we did this in France. It’s only a couple of months since we played brilliantly against Sweden and brilliantly against Italy, beating Italy – and we should have beaten Sweden in the game.
“For a long period we had France – a team that went on to the final in their own stadium – extremely concerned about us.
“Those are a couple of months ago. We have played two games in this: we have gone to Serbia and drawn against Serbia, a top-class side, and we haven’t played very well at home in a game, and that can happen. “These things are forgotten about.” On paper at least, Ireland should add another three points to their tally in Moldova.
Igor Dobrovolski’s men have lost 4-0 in Wales and 3-0 at home to Serbia in their opening two fixtures, but O’Neill, while welcoming increased expectation, is taking nothing for granted as he anticipates potential pitfalls.
Asked if he had targeted seven points from the first nine on offer, he said: “These games are tough, they are really tough matches for us, they are tough. You are talking about top-level football, so it’s going to be hard for us. I hadn’t targeted that at all.”
O’Neill’s task at the Zimbru Stadium will be complicated by the absence of Jeff Hendrick through suspension and Robbie Brady because of injury.