Coleman convinced Republic can earn their Euro 2020 spot
Seamus Coleman had already accepted the Republic of Ireland would have to beat either Switzerland or Denmark to qualify for the Euro 2020 finals before it became a mathematical certainty.Irelands 0-0 draw in Georgia on Saturday evening and the Danes 1-0 victory over the Swiss in Copenhagen left the two sides level at the top of Group D, with Switzerland four points behind but having played a game fewer.But as they set off from Tbilisi ahead of Tuesdays trip to Geneva, skipper Coleman was in bullish mood with a win either over the Swiss or against Denmark in Dublin next month enough to guarantee automatic qualification. Poulsen scores late as Denmark edge Switzerland! #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/d38n1O7298 UEFA EURO 2020 (@UEFAEURO) October 12, 2019He said: I do think were capable of a big result, Ive always said that. Over the last few years, weve proven that bar that bad year last year, we are capable of big results.We have to go for it anyway Tuesday night. We wont be sitting back the game might dictate that you might sit back, but well be going there looking for the win.That is exactly the approach Mick McCarthys men insisted they were adopting before the game at the Boris Paichadze Arena, but they found themselves on the back foot for long periods as Georgia dominated possession without creating clear-cut chances.Ireland might have won it through a first-half John Egan header which came back off the post, and from two later chances for 19-year-old substitute Aaron Connolly, who lit up the games dying moments on his senior debut.However, Coleman was pragmatic when asked if two points had slipped from their grasp.A huge thank you to all of the Irish supporters who made the trip to Tbilisi Next we move on to #SUIIRL #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/WAdw1rO2Mw FAIreland (@FAIreland) October 12, 2019He said: Ah look, we wanted to win the game, but then you come back in and you realise you got a point, you got a clean sheet and were capable of a big result.Ideally, we would have liked three points, but it wasnt to be.Tuesday nights game looks even bigger as a result of what happened in Tbilisi, where Denmark were also held to a 0-0 draw last month, although Coleman is not convinced.He said: Well, it does and it doesnt. You go into the game wanting to win and that wont change because of tonights result.We always want to win the game playing for draws and stuff like that is dangerous anyway, so we always go out and try to win a game and Tuesday night will be no different.Look, were going to play a top team, but I believe in the lads and if we can be a little bit more composed, we can get a result.Not the win we wanted tonight which is disappointing. Proud off @AaronConnolly_9 tonight making his Ireland debut many more to come ! Thanks to the fans who made the long journey once again pic.twitter.com/WELHBRX5MF Shane Duffy (@shaneduffy) October 12, 2019If there was an element of disappointment on the final whistle in Georgia, there was also a frisson of excitement at Connollys impressive cameo.Coleman said: He stretched them, he looked confident, he had a couple of chances not clear-cut chances by any means, but hes dangerous.Hes a good lad, hes got that quiet confidence as well. Without putting too much pressure on him, were delighted to have him and hopefully he can have a big future for us.(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
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