Sure, what is there to fear? The lad has only scored 10 goals in three games.
The only bright side for Ireland is play-off rivals Scotland have to face Robert Lewandowski before Martin O’Neill’s men travel to Warsaw – by then there is a good chance the in-form Bayern Munich striker will have blasted our Celtic cousins into oblivion.
Whatever happens against Germany in the Aviva.
The 27-year-old scored in Croke Park back in 2008 but has failed to find the net against either Ireland or Scotland in Group D, his international record of 29 goals in 70 games not quite as impressive as his current club form – which in the last week is running to a goal every 3.5 seconds, or something.
Still, Scotland manager Gordaon Strachan doesn’t scare easy – although he was speaking before Lewandowski’s latest hat-trick in Bayern’s 5-0 win over Zagreb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H-cGFEOzwQ
“People point out that they have Lewandowski and that’s true but they have not beaten us yet,” said Strachan after naming his 27-man squad for the final Group D matches, against the Poles in Hampden Park and away to Gibraltar.
“I think we’re as good as Poland and the Republic of Ireland, that’s for sure. Absolutely – and we have proved that up until now,” added the former Celtic manager, whose team must avoid defeat against Lewandowski and Co to avoid elimination.
“Some teams have a Gareth Bale and they don’t need passes. They just need to give it to him and it ends up in the back of the net. Lewandowski is another one.
“We don’t have that kind of player so we need to work at everything we get. Look at our goal against the Republic – there were eight passes before we put the ball in the net. The goal here against the Republic was an intricate passing move from a corner kick. There is no individual producing goals from nowhere, we’ve had to work at everything.”
The size of the task ahead of Scotland on October 8 (and Ireland three days later in their final game) is perhaps best illustrated by the goals for column: between them Ireland (17) and Scotland (14) have scored only two more goals than Poland (29).
Lewandowski may have scored 10 of those goals, but four came against Gibraltar so, you know.
Over-rated (god help us).
