Martin O'Neill: We’re not good enough to be complacent

"We’re not good enough to be complacent." That was the line of Martin O’Neill’s which rang loudest as he gave his final thoughts to the media ahead of this afternoon’s European Championship qualifier.

More sensitive souls might recoil but it is only the unvarnished truth. This Irish team, for all its manifest superiority on paper over the part-timers of Gibraltar, is not so overloaded with stellar world-class talent, that it can ever allow itself to be distracted by thoughts of a stroll in the park at the Aviva Stadium. If Ireland are to win today — and, as many would demand, win handsomely — then the manager’s message is that they will have to be prepared to fight for the right to party. And if the goal glut isn’t to materialise, then victory is both the minimum and most vital requirement.

“We want to be heading to Germany with six points on the board,” he said. “That will be key.”