The road to Russia starts tonight.
Belgrade’s the setting, Serbia’s the opposition, two years is the journey time.
Memories of France are just that now, memories. They’re as relevant as Italia ’90 at this stage and, as Martin O’Neill prepares to embark on a new campaign with a new team, all anyone is doing is looking ahead.
There are going to be changes aplenty as the next 10 games unfold.
In 22 months, the manager made eight changes from the team that started the campaign in Georgia, to the side that ended it in France.
It went from this:
To this:
Now, we’re looking towards 2018 and Russia and a World Cup.
Now, O’Neill and Keane have opted for a new team again and these are the men chosen to represent Ireland in Serbia (kick off at 7.45pm).
BREAKING: The Ireland side to face Serbia has been announced with Seamus Coleman captaining the team. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/f1OHWAh0gH
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 5, 2016
It looks like a 4-3-3 again in the form of:
Randolph;
Coleman, O’Shea, Keogh, Ward;
Hendrick, Whelan, Brady;
Walters, Long, McClean.
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