Seamus Coleman insists the Republic of Ireland’s new generation will not be scarred by the bitter pain of World Cup play-off defeat as they attempt to book a ticket for this summer’s finals.
Ireland face the Czech Republic at Prague’s Fortuna Arena on Thursday evening attempting to go one better than they did in 2009 against France and in 2017, when Denmark shattered their dreams with a 5-1 demolition job in Dublin.
However, Everton defender Coleman, who was not in the squad on that fateful night in Paris and was injured for the game with the Danes, is confident there will be no hangover, with the Czechs standing between Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men and a winner-takes-all match with either Denmark or North Macedonia in Dublin on Tuesday.
Asked if the pain of those near-misses was fuelling the latest bid to make it to the finals for the first time since 2002, the 37-year-old said: “It’s difficult to say if it’s fuelling the players, they’re all so young.
“Obviously the nation was hurt massively, but in terms of the current group of players I don’t think they’re dwelling too much on that hurt.
“To be honest, we’re just riding the wave of the confidence we’ve got as a group – which I think this young group deserves – from the last two games and we’re looking forward to Thursday night and then see what comes after that.
“But to see how the nation is feeling now is incredible and we’ve got a duty to try and make them even happier.”
Troy Parrott’s goals inspired Ireland to stunning wins over Portugal and Hungary that secured a play-off spot
Ireland are only in Prague because they backed up a scratchy Group F victory over Armenia with an unexpected 2-0 win against Portugal in Dublin before going to Hungary and coming out on top in a five-goal thriller in which Troy Parrott scored the decisive goal with the last kick of the game.
Coleman is one of only two players – 34-year-old Robbie Brady is the other – in the current squad to have been to a major tournament, and the experience they had in earning their trip to Euro 2016 in France could prove invaluable this time around.
Coleman and head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson are bidding to lead Ireland to World Cup qualification for the first time since 2002
Martin O’Neill’s team reached the finals by beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 on aggregate in a play-off after a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Zenica in the first leg.
Coleman said: “Maybe two years ago it would have been a lot for the young lads to take.
“But everyone now has stepped up and are prepared for what’s to come and we absolutely, no doubt about it, understand it’s going to be a tough game for us, but it’s also going to be a tough game for them as well.”
Head coach Hallgrimsson, who is without suspended defender Liam Scales and injured midfielder Josh Cullen, as ever exuded calm as he fulfilled his media duties on Wednesday morning, simply asking for more of the same from his players.
He said: “We all know by now why we got good results and good performances, and that’s the key, not be over-ambitious tomorrow, stay on point, focus on why we are here and trying to improve that, not only this game, continuously.”
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