O’Neill believes Hoops’ dreams can come true

BELIEF in themselves and the confidence garnered from their adventures in Europe to date are what will give Shamrock Rovers every chance of causing an early upset in Group A of the Europa League tonight.

That was the buzz around Dublin 24 last night as a League of Ireland side takes their historic first steps in the group stages of a European competition. And while Rovers manager Michael O’Neill was under no illusions of the step up in class Russian side Rubin Kazan represent, he stressed all the expectation is on Kurban Berdyev’s visitors in front of what should be a packed to its new 8,500 capacity Tallaght Stadium.

“I think past performance gives us belief, gives us confidence,” said O’Neill. “We’ve played 10 European fixtures now and in no game have we been totally outclassed and not been capable of getting a result — Juventus, Copenhagen, Partizan, even Yehuda were a top side.