Stadion Rajko Mitic, Belgrade, September 5th. That is where it will all begin again.
We are not sure how many of Martin O’Neill’s old warriors will make themselves available for the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, but it seems likely that some, if not all, of the elder statesmen such as Shay Given, Robbie Keane, Glenn Whelan, John O’Shea and Wes Hoolahan may view Euro 2016 as the time to bow out.
O’Shea and Hoolahan were the only ones to make it on to the pitch in Lyon on Sunday as the Republic of Ireland exited the tournament at the hands of France, and O’Shea would not have seen action were it not for the sending off of Shane Duffy.
Both the Sunderland defender and Whelan began the tournament as starters but, the escape from the group with victory over Italy would appear to have marked the changing of the guard and the future belongs to the generation of Duffy, Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick (all 24) – with Seamus Coleman (27) the new captain in waiting.
WATCH: "The performances of Brady and Hendrick will give a lift to all who want to see young Irish players progress" https://t.co/CbeuZuDAAx
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 27, 2016
The departure of proud servants, some of whom have been representing their country for more than 15 years, is sad but inevitable – however the arrival of a new generation of leaders definitely helps.
Ireland boss O’Neill addressed this on Monday as he met the media for the last time at the team’s training base, Stade de Montbauron in Versailles.
“I’m obviously delighted with the way some of the younger lads performed on this stage. First of all, feeling like they belonged there and then doing something about it,” he said.
“Some of them have come of age and it looks bright. I am saying this at this moment, with yesterday’s game still very much in the forefront of my mind, but I think when I look back on the competition in the next 10 days or so and have time to think about it, I will realise those players have not only done magnificently now but should be the bedrock of this team.”
The future is bright, bring on Serbia.
