'A couple of times' - Robbie Keane provides John O'Shea with insight on Hungary stars
Robbie Keane speaks to his players during a UEFA Europa League match in Budapest, Hungary. Pic: David Balogh/Getty Images.
John O’Shea has been able to lean on the insider knowledge of fellow centurion Robbie Keane in Ireland’s quest to take down Hungary on Saturday.
Keane’s Ferencváros side have the largest presence in Marco Rossi’s squad for the World Cup qualification opener at Lansdowne Road, including in-demand teenager Alex Tóth.
O’Shea and Keane were part of Ireland’s squad for Euro 2012 and 2016 and the Waterfordman is assistant coach to Heimir Hallgrímsson these days.
The weekend meeting between second seeds Hungary and third sees Ireland within a six-game sprint of a campaign for reaching North America next year will be pivotal to discovering which competes for a top-two finish with Portugal.
“A couple of times!,” O’Shea responded when asked if he’d contacted Keane in Budapest.
“It's more so to stay in touch with lads as well but he was able to give us little bits. Those Ferencváros players are at a good level and were unlucky not to reach the league phase of the Champions League last week.
“Their player Callum O’Dowda would have been close enough for making our squad so we’re keeping an eye on that as well.
“We know it's not just those players, they've got good quality players in their squad playing at a good level.”
O’Shea's sole victory over his four-game caretaker spell was an impressive one, scalping a Hungarian side on an 14-match unbeaten.
He was loathe to use that as a pointer to success on Saturday, explaining the contrasting stakes.
“We’re going from a friendly in the summer into a different picture of a World Cup qualifier,” he said to compare.
“Hungary were on a good run at the time as well and it was an important moment but a different stage of the season. They were building up to last year’s Euro finals.
“It's always nice when you're playing an opponent that you've won the last time but a totally different set-up in the sense of a World Cup qualifying game.”
With Robbie Brady injured, there’s nobody in this squad with experience of major tournament qualification.
O’Shea has urged them to create new memories having failed to engineer a tilt at reaching the last four finals.
“There's enough in the squad that have got plenty of experience going into these big nights in terms of European qualifications, World Cup qualification games,” reasoned O’Shea.
“That experience has been gathered over the last four or five years for a good bulk of the squad and they must take that on board.
“There’s been clear and consistent messages from us staff to the players. And if they implement those, we know we can have a very, very fruitful campaign.
“The best bit of advice I would be giving is these are huge opportunities - the most significant moments in your career. This can be the pinnacle.
“Not only for yourself, but for your family, friends, old coaches. And what the public and the fans are looking for and craving as well.
“If you can be a part of qualification, players will be heroes forever.”
