Ireland walk it like they talk it in 'fiery dressing room'

Even though the Group D table tells the only tale that ultimately matters, Ireland have shipped a fair amount of critical flak from pundits and punters en route to going joint top with Serbia on the long road to Russia.

But, even before Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane get to have their say, it’s the players who are their own worst — and best — critics, according to the always straight-talking Jon Walters.

“We can say things and it won’t get taken to heart,” he said. “It’s in the game and it’s forgotten about. We have characters and we’re not afraid to say things to each other and it’s a great trait to have. It was pretty fiery in the dressing room again on Sunday. There were some choice words at half-time, as there were the other night (against Georgia). But you take it on the chin and we came out much better in the second-half — so it worked.”