Martin O’Neill endures the worry game

While the flicker of springtime crept out of the skies in Paris yesterday, Martin O’Neill had nothing but summer thoughts consuming him as the challenge of Euro 2016 strikes sharply into focus.

Everywhere O’Neill turned or looked at the swish Pullman Hotel – where Uefa hosted a workshop of all 24 qualifiers – reminders of the task awaiting in France greeted him.

Italian officials mingled with Belgians and there beside him fielding questions from the media was Swedish manager Erik Hamren, just like he’ll be in exactly 100 days following the Group E opener between the nations 10 miles away at the Stade de France.

Much has to be resolved in the interim, not least confirmation of O’Neill and his sidekick Roy Keane renewing their contracts with the FAI beyond the tournament, and the Derry man admits for all the excitement the countdown brings, so too does the sense of anguish accompanying his tracking of players at club level.

Tough selection decisions are inevitable, a subject which already makes him bristle, but the matter of having options available in the first place becomes all the more precarious as the number of weeks and days fade.

Tuesday’s set of Premier League fixtures is a case in point. On a day he should have been celebrating his 64th birthday, O’Neill has reason to wince upon hearing of various casualties.

Though the injuries of Robbie Brady, Harry Arter, Shane Long and John O’Shea are not considered serious, it does underline the helplessness of an international manager.

“Be it John O’Shea, Arter, or Long, every injury that is reported, I’m wondering ‘could this be it?’’ he bemoaned. The recovery time is getting less and less now, so it’s a major concern. From here on in, it’s just about keeping close contact with the players.

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“And while they’ve had that time with the club since the play-off win in November, now as the games are getting closer, I might as well try and stay in contact with them.”

Next week comes the serious business by naming his squad for the double-header friendly against Switzerland and Slovakia at the end of the month.

It will be the first gathering since the November play-off victory and potentially a new chapter for candidates vying for places on the plane to France on June 8.

Consistent with his bad luck, Arter’s latest Achilles problem could prevent him accepting that audition which may perhaps free up a chance for Darron Gibson to get some game-time amid his ongoing period in the wilderness at Everton.

“It would be nice if Harry is available for selection,” O’Neill said of the Bournemouth playmaker. “As he hasn’t had that much experience of international football, only playing against England last season, then testing himself against some decent opposition would be good.

“I don’t know if Darron had an opportunity to go on loan, I’ll need to speak with him. I think you have to have a desire to go and play.

“If the decision is actually with the club and they want the player to stay, there is actually not much you can do about that.

“Of course, the more games you are playing competitively between now and the end of May, the better chance you will have of making the final 23 for the Euros.”

For those fortunate enough to survive the eventual cull, they can expect a workmanlike environment leading up the finals.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s strict regime for the Euros four years ago provoked criticism from players in subsequent years. O’Neill has injected some balance into the month-long preparation by opting for a training camp at the Fota Island resort in Cork but he expects the goodwill to be reciprocated.

“The minute we play the friendly against the Netherlands on May 27, and we hit France five or six days beforehand, then it’s absolutely total concentration,” affirmed O’Neill.

“I don’t think there will be time to get bored. I really don’t understand this suggestion of boredom, that it does happen and the very fact that it might happen. You can be bored for the rest of your life - just don’t be bored for a month. I really don’t understand it.

“Of course, if we progress from the group, then the players will have the opportunity to spend time with their family then.”

Meanwhile, O’Neill’s Swedish counterpart believes his captain and talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovi´c can shade the opener against Ireland in their favour.

Three points could be enough to guarantee progression during the expanded tournament and Erik Hamren – who helped take five points off Ireland in the last World Cup qualification campaign – is eager to accrue them early.

“If we have the same attitude as Ireland, we have a chance,” he explained. “Then I hope Zlatan can be the difference. He’s our only world-class and he would be the difference for a lot of teams.”

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