Liam Brady reckons that Ireland’s “limited” squad can qualify for EURO 2016 but says that it will go “right down to the wire” against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Martin O’Neill sends his side in battle in Zenica this evening (7.45pm live on RTÉ2), shorn of a host of probable starters.
Missing through injury and suspension are Shay Given, John O’Shea, Jon Walters, Shane Long and David Meyler.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, the former Juventus midfielder said: “We’ve got to come away with the tie still alive.
"At any other time going into this match, Ireland against Bosnia, it would be a 50/50 call but the fact we have some important players missing probably means that they are favourites, particularly playing at home tonight.
“Reading into Martin’s comments, he’s probably going to play for a 0-0 draw.
“Altering the style of the team? I don’t see how he can do that much anyway because it looks like [Daryl] Murphy will play up front, big lad, big target man.
“And the way we’re going to get out from our own half is to kick long balls to him.
"Possibly he’ll put [Marc] Wilson in midfield and maybe [Harry] Arter from Bournemouth and stack up the midfield with big, strong lads and hope we can come away with a 0-0.”
“Reading into Martin’s comments, he’s probably going to play for a 0-0 draw"
Despite the long injury list, the RTÉ Soccer analyst reckons Ireland can prevail over the two legs, the second of which takes place in the Aviva Stadium on Monday (7.45pm).
“It’s a great opportunity for us to qualify but we really need to come away from Bosnia, only maybe a goal down or a draw, particularly if we can get an away goal,” he said.
“If we can get a 1-1 over there it tips the scales massively in our favour but you’ve still got to do it at home. These are talented players.
“I think it’s a limited Irish squad as regards talent so it’s going to be nail-biting. I can’t see it being any other way.
“The last [play-off] against Estonia, it was a breeze, we were winning 4-0 away [in the first leg]. This time it’s going to go right down to the wire.”
