O’Neill ready for return to Paradise

MARTIN O’Neill admits he’d have been "irritated and disappointed" if Ireland had lost 1-0 to Germany on Tuesday night in Gelsenkirchen — stressing ahead of Ireland’s vital clash with Scotland at Celtic Park that the management and players are "not here for moral victories".

O’Neill’s players have now landed big results in two of three qualifiers thanks to late goals, proving a gambler’s mindset is beneficial at times.

“The other night was definitely one where we were going for it anyway, definitely trying to get something out of the game. There is a possibility that as you open the game up, the Germans are capable of catching you up and scoring that second goal. That was always the risk. But I don’t mind that, I don’t mind getting beat two or three if we have a chance of getting something out of the game, and that’s why there was this encouragement to go forward in the last stage. Now obviously if you had asked me at the start of the game would I take a draw (smiles)… but taking a draw and playing for a draw are two different things.