DAVID MEYLER HAD to endure a frustrating 90-plus minutes at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium on Saturday night.
As Ireland ground out a 0-0 draw away to Denmark, the midfielder was forced to watch from the sidelines, “kicking every ball”.
Two yellow cards — both picked up in matches against Wales — resulted in a suspension for the 28-year-old and forced manager Martin O’Neill into one change from the side that claimed victory in Cardiff.
Until recently, Meyler’s place on the bench would not have been questioned by many. However, two exemplary performances as stand-in captain in the most recent qualifiers have seen the Cork native jump to top of the pile as Ireland’s deep-lying midfielder.
“Obviously it’s a lot different when you’re preparing if you’re involved,” Meyler said this afternoon. “If you’re not, you’re sitting there watching the game, you’re heading and kicking every ball and screaming, ‘Run here!’, ‘Close here!’, ‘Tackle there!’.
But the lads did very well the other night and now we need to continue and make sure that we go to Russia.”
Christian Eriksen flittered in and out of the first leg and threatened with a couple of strikes from distance without causing Ireland huge problems.
“He did fine,” says Meyler of the Tottenham man. “Look, they didn’t score, the lads kept them quiet, but it’s got to be the same. It’s not just Christian Eriksen. They are a good team, they have a lot of players playing in the Champions League with top teams across Europe.
“We know exactly what they are capable of. We have watched them all week, we are fully prepared for them and it’s down to us, as the manager said, to get a result and put in a performance.”
A 1-0 win or better tonight would send the Boys in Green through to international football’s elite competition for the first time since 2002.
“This is stuff you dream of as a kid,” Meyler explains. “Everybody wants to play at a World Cup and we are 90 minutes away from it.
“If you look back at when we started the campaign with Serbia away, this is where we wanted to be, this is the goal.
The Euros was a great experience and we can draw on that, but we need to just go and perform and I believe fully that we’ll be going to Russia.
“I’ve spoken before about having memories of the ’94 World Cup and running around the house in an Ireland top. To be 90 minutes away from qualifying for a World Cup is huge.
“Looking back, you look at the sacrifices I had to go through and to have this opportunity, I don’t want to let it go. We’re going to do everything in our power to qualify.”
Ireland will be hopeful they can take make the most of home advantage. Their two most recent qualifications to major tournaments — against Estonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina — were both sealed at the Aviva Stadium and Meyler feels the Green Army can play their part once again.
“When they are are with us and cheering us on, it gives everyone a huge lift,” he added. “Even when you create a chance.
“They have been crucial for us in the last few years — in previous campaigns and this campaign. We want a big turn out tomorrow night, full numbers.”
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New presenter from the inner circle no doubt.
@Jeff Nolan: Surprised you’re interested at all in things GAA when you’re flying the colours of a foreign football team from a foreign country. “Inner circle”….. Give us a break!!!! Can’t understand people getting off on conspiracy theories!!
@Jerriko17: it is possible to follow a number of different sports!!!!
@Vinnie Cooney: Jeeeez.. That never occurred to me!!! Maybe RTE should appoint someone from MOTD to keep ye happy!!!
@Jerriko17: more than one sport out there. Expand your horizons.
@Jeff Nolan: never heard of him
@Jeff Nolan: Duh… I know there’s lots of sports!!!! I also know that most RTEs sports reporters, presenters and journalists served their time in other radio/tv stations, newspapers etc, , national and local. Its a grand number, granted, and probably why it generates all the begrudgery!!!…. same applies to most TV and radio stations but “Inner circle” conspiracy theories is a load of tosh!!!! Imo!! & no, I or anyone I know doesn’t work there!!!
Sad day for the parish. I’m going to miss his insightful commentary.
@Keith Duffy: what now
@Garreth mc mahon: ??
Yeah fair play.. time for a change
Rte gave this news to me as a breaking news notification on my phone. I thought he had died when it came up. But anyway…….it will be sad to see leave.
@Claire King: turn off notifications so
Hope he doesn’t forget to bring his hair dye
Joanne is good. She got a bit of grief when she started which was unfair but she has really grown into the role.
@Sean: agh come on ,no need for that sacrism here.
She tries her best.
Be good if it was Damien Lawler.
Anyone but JC
@Peter Roche: he played well for Portumna the weekend though?!
Don’t want to be loading the place up with too many Kerry lads, but Dara O Cinneide would be my choice. Proven host on TG4 and actually knows what he’s on about
@Summer Bay Devil: agree with you., he’s very good but wouldnt want to see him leave tg4
Sunday nights loss,Saturday and Sunday afternoon’s gain. Great reporter on a lot of sports
Wonder what female presenter is gonna take over for him….
Give it to Dalo. Be craic then for sure
@Sean Nihill: I think Dalos analysis is brilliant so I don’t think the presenting chair would suit him as you wouldn’t get much in the way of analysis as he’ll only be asking questions of other pundits. Anyway he has a busy pub to run :)
@Joe Markham: like wen they had spillane presenting the show in the 90s. Good pundit, not a good presenter.
Sean O Rourke is being lined up
Anna Geary or Ursula Jacob for sure