Now that Robbie Keane’s farewell game is over, the Republic of Ireland can turn their attention to Serbia and the beginning of the qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup.
Monday’s game in Belgrade is massive for Martin O’Neill’s team, and the result could prove vital in their attempts to make it to Russia in two years time.
Unlike previous qualification groups for Ireland, Group B appears to be evenly matched, with no standout, heavyweight team guaranteed to qualify. Wales were top seeds, Austria were second, Monday’s opponents third and Ireland were fourth seeds.
Moldova and particularly Georgia, who aided Ireland’s qualification for Euro 2016 greatly by beating Scotland at home, won’t be pushovers either.
Serbia are one of the few decent teams not to qualify for Euro 2016. Branislav Ivanovic is their captain, and Dusan Tadic will represent a threat and will need to be kept under wraps if Ireland are to get anything from the game.
Aleksandar Kolarov and Nemanja Matic are suspended for the game, but otherwise it’s a strong squad.
Here’s the Ireland XI we’d name for Monday’s game:
Darren Randolph has cemented his status as the team’s first-choice ‘keeper. Seamus Coleman trained on Friday, and will most-likely captain the side on Monday if he’s fit enough to play. If not, Cyrus Christie proved last October against Germany he’s a capable deputy at right-back.
Richard Keogh and Ciaran Clark were excellent against Balkan opposition last November, when Ireland beat Bosnia at home in the Euro 2016 play-off, and should get the nod if John O’Shea doesn’t prove his fitness in-time.
Glenn Whelan, while he still has his critics and was dropped for Ireland’s win over Italy at Euro 2016, but his experience and discipline could prove effective against Serbia, as it did when Ireland played Sweden in June. James McCarthy is injured and will miss the game.
Jeff Hendrick starts alongside him, and we’ve opted for Harry Arter to take-up the other midfield position. The Bournemouth midfielder has only made three appearances for Ireland, and has yet to play in a competitive game, but he’s energetic, aggressive and useful in possession. Ireland will need all three if they’re to get a positive result.
Robbie Brady will therefore be pushed further up the pitch, with Jon Walters on the opposite side. The Stoke City forward was injured and his contribution badly missed at Euro 2016. He was noticeably out-of-sorts against Sweden, and couldn’t provide his usual cover down the right side when Ireland lose were out possession. Two goals against earlier this week, albeit against an awful Oman team, showed he’s getting his sharpness back.
Shane Long leads the line.
There’s also the option to bring Wes Hoolahan into the team, and play a midfield diamond. Or to play James McClean wide-left, and drop Brady back into midfield for Arter.
Despite some injury concerns, O’Neill has options and a team that should be full of confidence following Euro 2016
The group arguably represents Ireland’s best chance to automatically qualify for a tournament since the Euro 2004 qualification campaign.
However, a bad start away to Russia, and a loss at home to Switzerland, scuppered that campaign and Ireland never recovered. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen during this campaign, and O’Neill’s side get off to a good start away to Serbia.
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