The presence of Ciaran Clark alongside Martin O'Neill at Ireland's final press conference was a fitting emblem for the finale of this gruelling campaign.
From John O’Shea’s late strike in Gelsenkirchen on an October night in 2014 to Cyrus Christie’s debut goal against Gibraltar and the enhancement of his reputation on that famous night against Germany, much of the emphasis is fixed on the fire-fighting qualities of Ireland’s back line.
It is always busy. Stephen Ward is unable to persuade Sean Dyche that he is worth a start at Burnley but somehow managed to survive when called up by O'Neill to man the left-back spot against the Germans for that stunning 1-0 win in Dublin and again on Friday evening against Bosnia and Herzgovina in Zenica.
Cold precision
O’Shea’s absence through suspension stripped the back line of its natural leader but through the constant wave of Bosnian attacks which emanated through the fog, the central partnership of Clark and Keogh shone like a beacon.
Edin Dzeko got one true opportunity and nailed it with the cold precision which separates prized strikers from the rest.
But Ireland’s back four, regardless of the composition, have come to epitomise the desperate pride with which this team plays and somehow transcends the sum of its parts.
“I thought everyone done well on the night” was Clark’s modest deflection when his overall performance was praised after a wet and windy morning session in Abbotstown yesterday.
“It is hard for me to say whether it was my best game or not. But we just go out to do a job and get the best possible result and we were quite happy at the end although we were disappointed to concede. At the start of the campaign we would have taken the position that we are in.”
That much is undeniable. Martin O’Neill has strongly hinted that playing for the 0-0 draw which would secure safe passage would be a foolhardy ambition given the range of scoring options which Bosnia and Herzegovina possess.
If the lacerating running of Edin Visca along Ireland’s left side characterised the first half, then the introduction of the 6’6” Milan Djuric for the last 20 minutes gave Ireland’s central pair a more basic threat to cope with. Miralem Pjanic floated around the margins of Bosnia’s attack all evening and with the home crowd still stunned by Robbie Brady’s magical turn, Dzeko hauled his team and country back into contention.
Dangerous
“Yeah. We watched a lot on Bosnia and they are all very talented and dangerous,” Clark agreed.
“The style of play obviously changed for them towards the end of the game. They started to go a lot more direct, especially towards the end, and cause us problems that way.
“They tried to play in the first half and then mixed it up a bit and tried to go really direct and maybe that is something I didn’t expect. But being part of that and playing in the game, obviously now I know what they’ve got and where their strengths are.”
One of the key decisions for O’Neill is whether to retain the central pairing which formed the heart of Ireland’s resistance in Zenica or to restore O’Shea to the team.
The Sunderland veteran has been an automatic selection for O’Neill but was considered unlikely to even make the squad last week, having failed to recover from a persistent hamstring injury. Asking him to come in cold for the defining game of O’Neill’s first two years in charge is a critical call.
“John has been terrific in the campaign,” he said yesterday in a slightly valedictory tone.
“He epitomises the spirit we have in the side : never say die. He has come up with big goals for us as well – two important goals – and he has been pretty exceptional throughout the tournament. So I couldn’t speak more highly of him.”
It was O’Neill who gave Clark his debut at Villa, against Fulham in 2009. Late on Friday night, he recalled that Clark had played “outstandingly well”, adding with the dry Derry touch he sometimes employs: “So much so that I left him out for the next game.”
Whether that pattern is repeated this evening remains to be seen. According to O’Neill, the early success with which Bosnia attacked Ireland’s cover on the left flank was down to the irrepressible quality of Visca rather than any belief in Ireland’s vulnerability – or their knowledge of how little first-team football Ward has had.
“They raid down the right-hand side because they have a very fine right winger. I don’t think that Bosnia necessarily target players in that way. I think they want to get the ball to the little lad who is an exceptional talent. I think he could cause problems to anyone.
“Stephen did fine. He hasn’t played much for Burnley. He is a natural left back for us; left foot. He’s a nice player. He has never let us down at least in the games I’ve been involved. I wouldn’t have any qualms about playing him again if the need arises.”
The one thing that O’Neill can count on is that whichever choices he makes, he can be assured of the full-hearted commitment of each of his players.
Running sprints
The honesty of this group has shone more brightly as the campaign has progressed: one of the few sights which the Zenica fog could not obscure was the vision of
Robbie Keane
, Ireland’s record goalscorer, running sprints like a new call-up at 11 o’clock at night, the game over and the result decided. Nobody can ever claim they don’t care.
“It isn’t a position I expected to be in at all,” Clark admitted of being part of the conversation, if perhaps not the final team for the Republic of Ireland’s most important game in years.
“It just comes from working hard and trying to get games and trying to play week in week out at club level. Only then if you are doing okay and doing well, the boss and staff will be watching. But I never expected to be sitting here at all. And I am really privileged to be involved and be part of the squad.”
