Republic of Ireland vs Wales - Republic ready to do Zlatan on Bale to boost qualification chances
Posted Friday, March 24, 2017 by PA
Seamus Coleman has challenged the Republic of Ireland to do to Gareth Bale what they did to Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Euro 2016 to strengthen their grip on World Cup qualification.
Much of the talk in the days building up to Friday night's showdown with Wales in Dublin has surrounded the Real Madrid star and how best Group D leaders Ireland can cope with the danger he represents.
But having seen his team largely becalm Sweden talisman Ibrahimovic in Saint-Denis as they launched their Euro 2016 finals campaign in France last summer, skipper Coleman is confident they can do the same to Bale.
He said: "We are a team which has played against big players in the past - I remember when we played Sweden in the summer, all the talk was about Zlatan and it's quite similar this time.
"But we are fully focussed on our job and looking forward to the game. Look, as I said, we were getting asked the same questions in the summer about certain players and you have got another 10 players on the pitch you have got to worry about.
"We know he's a world-class player and we are going to have to be careful and get tight to him in certain areas, but we can't just fully focus on Gareth Bale.
"They have got a lot of good players and we need to make sure they worry about us as well."
Manager Martin O'Neill was giving nothing away on his plans to shackle Bale, but admitted there would be times when the 27-year-old Welshman would hurt the Republic.
O'Neill said: "Of course there are going to be moments in matches when great players extricate themselves from difficult positions and cause you problems - that's why they are great players.
"It's that type of thing that we will try to cut to a minimum if we can. But naturally being a brilliant player, he will cause us problems."
O'Neill has spent the past few days mulling over his options with Robbie Brady ruled out through suspension and Shane Duffy, Ciaran Clark, Harry Arter, Wes Hoolahan and Daryl Murphy by injury.
However, Everton midfielder James McCarthy still has a chance of playing some part - no doubt to the consternation of club boss Ronald Koeman - after training on Thursday for the second successive day as he battles his way back from a hamstring problem.
Meanwhile, Ben Davies insists Wales are not bothered by the World Cup suspension tightrope that five of their players will be walking on Friday.
Davies joins talisman Bale, skipper Ashley Williams, Joe Allen and Joe Ledley in being one booking away from missing the trip to Serbia in June.
The Tottenham defender has painful experience of what two yellow cards add up to, having missed the Euro 2016 semi-final defeat to Portugal last summer through suspension.
But Davies says possible bans will be the last thing on the minds of the Wales players at what is sure to be a raucous Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday night.
"We haven't discussed that (the bookings). But I think everyone's aware what position they are in if yellow cards do come," Davies said.
"You can't let a yellow card hang over you. If you think about it during the game then it will affect your performance on the field.
"If you get yellow carded you deal with the consequences after.
"It's the next game that's the most important, and it's all about the team.
"If you have to take a yellow card in the game, then so be it."
Wales are unbeaten in Group D but have ground to make up following successive draws against Austria, Georgia and Serbia.
Davies returns after missing the November draw against Serbia through injury, and Wales are also delighted to call upon Bale and Aaron Ramsey after recent injury scares.
Bale had ankle surgery at the start of December and midfielder Ramsey has featured for Arsenal lately after a calf problem.
"It's pretty rare this campaign that everybody's been here," Davies said.
"It's massive for us to have Gareth and Aaron, you saw in the summer how important they are. It gives us a spark as a team.
"It's also nice to see there's some good young players coming through like Ben Woodburn and Harry Wilson.
"They've impressed the boys in training this week and everyone's confident ahead of what we know is a big game."
Wales trained at their Hensol base in the Vale of Glamorgan on Thursday.
There are fears Joe Ledley could miss the game if his wife Ruby goes into labour early with their third child.
But Ledley trained with the rest of the squad before Chris Coleman's men were due to depart for Dublin.
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