- Ben Blake reports from Versailles
SEAMUS COLEMAN HAS captained Ireland before, but last night he made a compelling case for wearing the armband on a permanent basis.
From setting the tone with his early tackle on Mattia De Sciglio, to roaring into the face of James McCarthy and giving a stirring speech to his team-mates, the Everton full-back showed immense leadership qualities in Lille.
It was a proud moment for the former Sligo Rovers defender, and the 27-year-old has made himself the favourite to take over as skipper when Robbie Keane and John O’Shea hang up their international boots.
Speaking today in Versailles, Martin O’Neill explained how he couldn’t be happier with how Coleman stepped up to the plate.
“He’s an impressive, young man,” said O’Neill. “He’s a very quiet, young man, but he’s shown a great intensity in this competition. He’s ready for it.
He embraced the captaincy, took it in his stride. I thought he was a captain in everything he did.
“A couple of players mentioned that he was inspirational in his little speech to the players, which was great.”
O’Neill also emphasised the importance of securing the win after producing such a round performance.
He added: “We needed to seal that performance last night with a win because I don’t think we wanted to go home feeling, it was a great performance, but should have had a penalty but didn’t, Wes should have scored but didn’t, and do you know what? In two days’ time, it’s forgotten (if Ireland hadn’t won).
“We’ve come up big at the end of the game and deservedly so, but for that to mean that we have qualified and gone through, it was just immense in that sense, so at least we will take great pride in that.”
Listen to The42′s Ben Blake on the 98FM Euro 2016 Daily podcast throughout the tournament
Id like to see him keep the armband.
Thought his tackle on the Italian left back was reminiscent of Keane’s tackle against the Dutch. Set the tone
I think we are going to see a few lads retiring after the Euro’s.Given and Keane for certain and I would think O’Shea,Hoolahan,Whelan,Doyle and Murphy who are all coming to mid thirties.Coleman would be deserved Captain.We might see a very different squad in September.
Great slo mo of him screaming encouragement in the face of mc clean last night. We might not have the best players but we have the biggest hearts.
Ppl talk about it being the Italians second team and completely ignore the fact that’s we made 4 changes to the team from the first two games. So we played with almost half our “second team”.
Only Italy completely changed a winning team…….we had to change a team who got trounced
I think Hendrick will be captain one day. He definitely deserves it.
Would love to hear that speech!
Starting team in WC2018 qualifiers: Randolph, Coleman, Keogh, Duffy, Christie, McCarthy Hendrick, Byrne, Brady, McClean, Long. Every player under the age of 30, looking well for the future.
You forgot Harry Arter mate.
Let’s hope as many as possible are playing week in week out in the Premier League
Donegal – The pride of all.
Was Given there ? Saw Robbie K and Oshea enjoying the occasion . Personally feel should never have been brought .
Given’s experience in the dressing room is probably worth bringing him alone.
I’m sure he could be brought for that role in another capacity instead of taking up a place on the bench?!?
He can also still do a job in goal and add value to the dressing room. Getting two for one.
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