O'Shea: 'We have to go out and win'

Republic of Ireland can move into second in Group C if they get past Austria at the Aviva Stadium in their World Cup Qualifier, although they will be without record goalscorer Robbie Keane.

The Los Angeles Galaxy striker picked up a calf strain in Friday’s goalless draw in Sweden and is set to be replaced by Wolves striker Kevin Doyle.

The Republic’s home form has been far from ideal with a 6-1 reverse against Germany in October still fresh in their minds. However defender John O’Shea is confident they can register a vital three points, saying that, as the home team, his side has to go out and win the game if they want to qualify for the World Cup.

“If we can start on the front foot, like we did against Sweden, and have the pressing, cohesive unit that we had the other night and stop Austria playing, then we can build our attacks from there,” he said.

“But let’s wait and see how they decide to approach the game as well.

“It will be on us as the home side, but we are not going to be too silly and go gung-ho because they have got lots of attacking threats.”

The phrase “gung-ho” is simply not in manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s vocabulary, and not just because of his limited English.

Trapattoni is a man for whom results mean everything, and while he too knows the game is a must-win affair if Ireland are to stand a chance of making it to the finals in Brazil next summer, he will look to defensive solidity to provide a platform for what happens at the other end of the pitch.

He was delighted with what he saw at the Friends Arena with goalkeeper David Forde making his competitive debut and Seamus Coleman, Ciaran Clark and Marc Wilson lining up alongside O’Shea at the back.

O’Shea said: “The more consistency the team can get with selection, I suppose, the better, and also the confidence from Seamus and Marc as an attacking threat also joining, it was good to see the other night.

“But the manager obviously balanced that out with Paul Green covering across, so the tactics the other night worked to a treat and we will wait and see what we have up our sleeve for Tuesday night, I suppose.

“But we have to make sure we can cause Austria more problems maybe than we did the Swedes.

“But look, it’s an international game of football. Generally at the moment, there is very little between teams, so if we can do a bit more with our set-pieces also, we will be able to cause them lots more problems.

“The formation from us I don’t think will change too much. Whether one or two of the personnel change, we will have to wait and see.

“But we are the home team and we have to go out and win the game if we want to be qualifying for the World Cup. It’s very simple.”

Jon Walters is nursing a back injury, but midfielder Glenn Whelan, who missed the game in Sweden because of an ankle injury, has returned to training and is likely to be reinstated.

Austria are the group’s second top scorers with 11 goals so far and are ahead of Giovanni Trapattoni’s side courtesy of their far superior goal difference.

Thumping victories over Kazakhstan, and, on Friday against San Marino, have certainly helped Marcel Koller’s side, who are wary of the Irish threat.

“Ireland are a different standard than the Faroe Islands. Every player must be aware that it will be harder,” he told reporters.

“We were a little bit too loose at times and did not keep our organisation as I would have liked. And if we slack off against strong teams like the Irish, they will strike. If they see an opportunity, they will bite.

“We will pick a team so that we can win. We want to win. But if a draw looks likely, we will take a point.”

Germany boss Joachim Low has demanded his team remain focused for tomorrow’s match against Kazakhstan in Nuremberg.

Low’s side were 3-0 victors against the same opposition on Friday, with the triumph seeing them go five points clear of second-placed Sweden, who have a game in hand.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller were all on target in Astana, but the former will be suspended for tomorrow’s game.

Despite the Bayern Munich midfielder’s absence, Germany should prove too strong for a Kazakhstan side who have picked up just one point from their opening five matches.

“If you score a victory away then there is the danger that you keep this in your head for some time,” Low told reporters. “We have to keep reminding the players that we are playing at home and we will only win if we have the right attitude.”