Unlike four years ago, the Republic of Ireland will go into their final group game at these European Championships with hope.
Like four years ago it will be against Italy who, unlike England, Belgium, Colombia, and a host of other nations who always loiter around the top of the spurious FIFA rankings, seem to hit their peak at major tournaments (two years ago in Brazil accepted).
However, ahead of Saturday’s second Group E game, against Belgium here in Bordeaux, O’Neill accepted that Ireland must win one of their two remaining games.
On current form a first European Championships win since England in Stuttgart 28 years ago would seem more attainable against the world number two side Belgium than Antonio Conte’s scarily well-drilled Italians, who beat Sweden 1-0 on Friday thanks to an 88th minute goal from Eder.
Having watched the second half of the match in the Ireland team’s Bordeaux hotel, O’Neill accepted that three draws are not going to see Ireland into the last-16.
“It looks as if we have to win a game now,” said the Ireland boss. “Whatever the outcome of tomorrow night’s game.”
Martin O'Neill caught uncharacteristically tongue tied when asked how many #BEL players would make the #IRL teamhttps://t.co/j6KXw4ePQN
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 17, 2016
There is a growing sense that the Belgium players would rather secede to Germany than play for manager Marc Wilmots but O’Neill was quick to point out the individual strengths of a group of players that is the envy of most countries at the tournament.
Captain Eden Hazard is enigmatic, flighty but brilliant, midfielder Axel Witsel is as sharp as his piercing blue eyes and, for all their travails against Italy, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are among the best central defensive pairings in the Premier League.
And that is before we get on to Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke, Divock Origi and the rest of Belgium’s seemingly endless supply of attacking talent.
“Individually they’re as talented as any side playing,” said O’Neill, who will be encouraging his team to hold on to possession as they did for the first hour of the 1-1 draw with Sweden.
“As important as anything is that when we have possession of the ball we play with the same sort of confidence we had the other evening. That was the most pleasing thing, we went and played, created chances because of the assurance we had on the ball – let’s deal with it in the same manner.”
That task will be made more difficult due to the absence of Jon Walters (above) with an Achilles injury. His place in attack is likely to be taken by James McClean, unless O’Neill deviates from his preferred diamond formation to offer more defensive cover from the array of attacking talent detailed above.
However O’Neill was reminded during the week that the crucial 1-1 draw away to Bosnia in the play-offs was earned without the suspended Walters and the manager – possibly to highlight the supposed Belgian disharmony – seemed keen on Friday to emphasise the spirit of unity within this Irish squad.
“The players have been doing this for a long time,” he said. Maybe since the disappointment against Scotland a year ago, I think we’ve been there. We’ve been there, fighting for every ball, we haven’t allowed games to disappear.
“I see no reason why we shouldn’t continue to do that. If we do, it wouldn’t be through lack of endeavour…. I can assure you of that.”
WATCH: Literally nobody enjoyed Northern Ireland's win more than Keith Gillespie https://t.co/vBPlQ0DLGn
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 17, 2016
If O’Neill wanted to see where endeavour and spirit can get you in this tournament he need look no further than his old national team. Northern Ireland’s tremendous 2-0 defeat of Ukraine on Thursday has been the feelgood story of the tournament so far.
Having won 64 caps for Northern Ireland before retiring ahead of the 1986 World Cup, O’Neill reflected on their “terrific result”, admitting his mind drifted back to the 1982 World Cup in Spain when goals from Gerry Armstrong saw Northern Ireland top their group with a draw against Honduras and a famous win over the hosts.
“It was terrific result for Northern Ireland, but my allegiances are obviously with John [O’Shea] and his crew, so terrific result, no doubt at all about it – [I was] reminiscing about 30 odd years ago in 1982,” said O’Neill.
“We have to be rather selfish about this to see if we can qualify first ourselves.,” he added. “If anybody else qualifies in our wake we can congratulate them, but I’m rather selfish about this, I want us to try and win first.”
