O'Shea believes Ireland can replicate Germany shock against Portugal
John O'Shea was part of the Ireland team which shocked Germany a decade ago. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
John O’Shea believes Ireland can replicate his Germany upset of a decade ago when they host Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Thursday.
Five dropped points in the opening September double-header are the primary reason why Ireland will likely need at least four against the top two seeds to stand any chance of snaffling the playoff route to next year’s World Cup.
Portugal, ranked fifth in the world, are up first before Heimir Hallgrímsson takes his side to Hungary on Sunday for what could be the final game of his tenure.
Ireland’s last-chance saloon status is compounded by the injury-enforced absence of Evan Ferguson.
He’d scored three of Ireland’s four goals in the four matches to date but a nagging ankle injury sustained during his loan spell at AS Roma rules him out.
There’s an outside chance of him returning for the concluding fixture at the Puskás Arena but the diminishing hope is symptomatic of Ireland’s plight.
If Hungary, as expected, beat bottom seeds Armenia in the 5pm kick-off, Ireland must at least hold Roberto Martinez’s star-studded outfit to a draw.
Otherwise, Sunday's final match in Budapest becomes a dead rubber for Ireland, with thoughts turning to another managerial hunt for the FAI.
Not since Shane Long’s winner against the reigning world champions in 2015 have Ireland delivered a major shock at home.
Dublin’s Aviva Stadium was sold out long ago, principally due to the presence of 40-year-old icon Ronaldo, but O’Shea feels there’s a result in this current team that can revive a limp campaign on the final straight.
“This group is more than good enough to get a result like that, without a doubt,” said O’Shea who played in the defence set up by Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane on that memorable night.
“We have that confidence and belief in the group, whatever team is selected. That’s why we picked them.
“We know they’re capable of getting over the line and Thursday is the opportunity of showing it.
“That’s what we’re craving, knowing it gives confidence to the whole place. The entire country can go absolutely crazy.
“The fans will help us, but also we must help them in our performance. That’s by winning our duels, our contacts and forcing Portugal on the back foot a lot more in this game.
“When we can too, we’ve to take advantage of our scenarios – even in our set-piece situations which hopefully we’ll be getting a lot more of in this home game.”
Hallgrímsson, O’Shea and the other assistant Paddy McCarthy succeeded in executing a game-plan in last month’s away fixture – until a stoppage time by Rúben Neves punctured Ireland’s resistance.
Roberto Martinez has warned his players to expect a raucous atmosphere. While Ireland will be missing suspended duo Ryan Manning and Jayson Molumby, Bruno Fernandes also serves a one-match ban for the visitors.
Ronaldo will be at the tip of Portugal’s armoury and O’Shea reckons the charges sent into battle can again contain football’s first billionaire as he seeks additions to his record-holding haul of 143 international goals.
His previous two appearances for Portugal against Ireland in his homeland entailed braces but in Lisbon last month he struck the post and saw Caoimhín Kelleher save his penalty.
Three days later, normal service resumed for Ronaldo when he struck twice against Hungary but the concession of a late Dominik Szoboszlai equaliser leaves them requiring victory to seal a ticket to Brazil next year with the final qualifier against Armenia to spare.
“Listen, we managed to stop him in the last game,” O’Shea noted about the attacker he was a teammate of at Manchester United 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 and defensively in particular did brilliantly in the duels and 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. That's everyone connected, ensuring the units are together and strong.” Ireland have left their hardest tasks to the latter stages but O’Shea was sanguine when asked if he’s taken this scenario at the outset. He wasn’t echoing Hallgrímsson’s insistence that Ireland’s fate remains within their control.
“You’re always wanting more,” asserted the Waterfordman.
“Whether that’s more clean sheets, goals, attacking opportunities and to be in a better position.
“But you always want that chance to qualify and that’s what we still have.
“It’s up to us now. We’ll have an advantage in a sense of knowing the Hungary result beforehand but we must perform in these games to get points - simple as that.”
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