With Northern Ireland having already earned an invitation to Euro 2016 , the Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill craves a ticket to the party. He confesses to being “envious” of his Northern Ireland counterpart, Michael O’Neill, and also of the managers of England and Wales, all of whom can relax as the Republic try to navigate their way through a play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina with a seriously depleted squad.
“Michael [O’Neill] is having a cigarette somewhere, as is Roy Hodgson and Chris Coleman, smoking and enjoying themselves,” said O’Neill. “I’m envious, I’d like to join them if at all possible.”
The Republic reached the finals four years ago thanks to a play-off victory over Estonia but generally they have found these last chances difficult to grasp, prevailing in only two of seven play-offs in their history. Their preparations for the first leg of the latest one, away to Bosnia, have been equally inauspicious, as the manager admits that injuries and suspensions will force him to “adjust personnel certainly, and perhaps also style”.
It will be fascinating to see which style he adopts. The fact that away goals will be taken into consideration in the event of the two-legged tie being level after extra-time could incite him to go for a more offensive approach than he has pursued in previous matches on the road. But does he have the tools? Injury to Shane Long and suspension to Jon Walters strip Ireland of players who contributed a third of their goals during the group stage. Robbie Keane no longer has even a fraction of their mobility or menace and Darryl Murphy has shown little hint of such qualities during his three appearances in the campaign so far.