It’s going to be tough.
Much of the talk in the build-up to Ireland’s pivotal World Cup Qualifier against Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night has focussed on how Martin O’Neill’s side will stop certain Welsh players from having an influence on the game.
Most notably the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
Most of the soundbites coming out of the Ireland camp this week have been diplomatic as you would expect.
Martin O’Neill and his players have reiterated on more than one occasion that they have 11 players to worry about, nevermind focussing solely on someone like Bale.
But you can be sure that there will be a plan in place for Bale as he attempts to influence proceedings on Friday night.
It would be foolish not to have one.
The Real Madrid forward has been involved in 15 goals in his last 14 appearances for Wales (11 goals, four assists).
He also scored Wales’ only goals in their last two matches.
It promises to be a difficult night at the office for Ireland’s back four as they look to pit themselves against such attacking talent.
One man who is likely to be involved is Donegal’s Seamus Coleman.
The attacking full-back has played against Bale before, around the time the 27-year-old announced himself on the European stage with a memorable hat-trick for Tottenham Hotspur against Inter Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League.
Coleman’s Everton side played against Spurs in the Premier League after that game and the full-back’s recollection of that day seven years ago perhaps offers an insight into how Ireland will hope to stop Bale on Friday night.
“When he was doing really well against the likes of Inter Milan, I was a right midfielder and whenever we played them, it was a doubling-up job with Phil Neville. It had to be done,” Coleman told Sky Sports.
Whether Ireland look to employ a ‘doubling-up job’ or a man-marking job remains to be seen.
It depends on a variety of factors.
The availability of some of Ireland’s players will not be known until just before kick-off and of course, it also depends on the formation which Chris Coleman deploys, with the 46-year-old perhaps reverting to his trusted 3-5-2 lineup.
Regardless of the scenario, you can fully expect O’Neill and Roy Keane to have a variety of plans to help nullify the threats which Bale poses.
