The Republic of Ireland’s first away game against Gibraltar could go down in history for other reasons – such as a record victory for the Irish, or an unprecedented humiliation – but what would really satisfy Martin O’Neill is if Friday was remembered as the day when his team gained fresh hope of reaching the European Championship.
The problem for O’Neill is he has no influence over the match that is likely to have the most ramifications for his team but if Georgia manage to take points off Scotland in Tbilisi, then the Irish will kick off against Gibraltar an hour later with renewed belief they could leapfrog Gordon Strachan’s side into third place in Group D on more than just a temporary basis. O’Neill will then be looking for a performance to strengthen that belief further, as well as evidence that some of his key players are in form before Ireland’s own meeting with Georgia, in Dublin on Monday.
Memories of an embarrassing and ruinous 0-0 draw away to Liechtenstein 20 years ago, as well as a basic desire not to patronise opponents into transcending limitations, means Irish players and management have been careful not to describe the result of their joust with Europe’s lowest-ranked team as a foregone conclusion. But it should be. They beat Gibraltar 7-0 at home in October – when they should really have achieved their highest ever victory, which remains the 8-0 win over Malta in 1983.
Diplomacy obliging, the Irish have pointed out that the underdogs have changed manager and improved since their last meeting. Jeff Wood, a former Luton Town goalkeeping coach, takes charge of Gibraltar for the first time tonight, having been assistant to the interim manager Dave Wilson in their last qualifier in June, when they made it through the first 28 minutes without conceding – their longest in the campaign so far – before eventually losing 7-0 to Germany. Wood called up several youngsters into the squad for tonight’s match on the Algarve, where Gibraltar host Ireland because there is no suitable stadium on their own territory, and the notional home team will be short of match sharpness, as Gibratar’s domestic season has not yet started.
With the Irish squad at full-strength, the visitors should help themselves to three points; if they come with a demonstration of creative attacking, that would be a welcome development for O’Neill, whose side have too often looked predictable and pedestrian throughout the campaign.
Ireland go into the game with five men – Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, James McClean, Glenn Whelan and Marc Wilson – only one booking away from a ban with Germany and Poland to come next month.
However, O’Neill wants those involved to forget about what may lie in store. “It is what it is and of course those players who are on two yellow cards, I would like to remind them there are some challenges that you would think might not be worth it; of course there are other ones that certainly would be,” he said. “It is what it is. Some players get booked now for innocuous things and it tallies up. But I cannot start predicting and worrying myself about anything that’s happening.”
McCarthy, for instance, could hardly wish for a more inviting opportunity to introduce more adventure to his midfield play, and it would be a good night for Shane Long or another forward to put a convincing case for easing Ireland’s reliance for goals on Robbie Keane.
The 35-year-old captain scored a hat-trick inside 13 minutes during last autumn’s win over Gibraltar but managed only 17 minutes as a substitute when the Scots left Dublin with a point in June with the after-effects of a groin injury hampering him.
“Obviously the last game ... I didn’t feel as fit as I’d like to,” said Keane. “Playing only I think one game or two games, maybe, 30 minutes and 60 minutes, I think, before I came in with the squad, so I certainly wasn’t fully fit. But I’ve had a good few months since then. I’ve been fully fit, the team has obviously been doing well and personally, it’s been going very, very well for me, so I certainly feel fit and raring to go.”
