John O’Shea: Ireland can frustrate Ronaldo again in Dublin showdown

Ireland need to avoid defeat to Portugal on Thursday if they are to make their clash with Hungary on Sunday relevant

John O'Shea said Ireland must be "tight, aggressive" against Portugal on Thursday. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

John O’Shea believes Ireland can frustrate his former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo again in Ireland’s penultimate World Cup qualifier on Thursday (7.45pm).

Ronaldo’s previous two appearances for Portugal against Ireland in his homeland scooped braces but in Lisbon last month he struck the post and saw Caoimhín Kelleher save his penalty. It took a last-minute header from Ruben Neves to nick victory for the group leaders.

Three days later, normal service resumed for Ronaldo when the 40-year-old struck twice against Hungary but the concession of a late Dominik Szoboszlai equaliser means they need a result in Dublin on Thursday to seal qualification.

Ireland’s need is more acute. They sit third in the table and should, as expected, Hungary inflict defeat on Armenia earlier in the day, Ireland must avoid losing to the fifth highest-ranking team in the world to make the final day trip to Budapest on Sunday relevant.

“Listen, we managed to stop him in the last game,” said Ireland assistant coach O’Shea about the attacker with whom he was a teammate at Old Trafford for six years.

“Portugal have plenty of threats in the team. He (Ronaldo) had that shot from outside of the box but otherwise the team as a unit, defensively in particular, did brilliantly in the duels and the crosses we had to deal with.

“It will be a similar situation again on Thursday. We have to be tight, aggressive and have to clear crosses, the usual stuff that will go into a big Irish victory.

“We must defend our box. And not just defenders, it’s midfield and attack. Everyone connected, ensuring the units are together and strong.” 

Ireland will go about their late tilt for points without Evan Ferguson, whose ankle injury hasn’t healed in time. O’Shea isn’t ruling him out of the second game against Hungary but the prospects appear remote.

Nathan Collins: "You want to create that kind of fortress at home and make it tough for teams coming here." Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Into his place comes Celtic’s Johnny Kenny, while another Scotland-based player Jamie McGrath replaces the injured Mark Sykes.

Monday’s first session was a light workout. Liam Scales, Kenny, Kelleher, Nathan Collins and Troy Parrott all reported for duty but were excused from the session due to their participation in Sunday’s club matches.

“Martin O’Neill has a great track record of giving that younger, hungry player a chance,” said O’Shea about Kenny’s surge under the caretaker Celtic boss, a former manager of the Waterfordman with Ireland.

“Johnny is doing everything right in training and getting the chance to show it in a game, it’s brilliant to see.” 

Ireland captain Nathan Collins is confident Ireland can emerge from this crunch final double-header in second place, thereby entering into next March’s playoffs for the World Cup.

“Not many teams want to come to Lansdowne and go, ‘We’re really up for this, we really want to fight for this’,” he noted.

“That’s where we gain our motivation, that teams are looking at us and going, ‘Ah, not Ireland away.’ 

“I think that builds confidence and motivation.

“You just have to bring it onto the pitch then. You want to create that kind of fortress at home and make it tough for teams coming here.”