Football
John Brewin, ESPN FC 6y

Republic of Ireland must be 'expansive' in order to reach World Cup - O'Neill

DUBLIN -- Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill says his team must be more "expansive" if they are to earn a place at the World Cup in Russia in Tuesday's playoff second leg against Denmark.

Ireland played defensively to frustrate their opponents during Saturday's goalless draw in Copenhagen, meaning victory in Dublin will guarantee progress.

Speaking to reporters at Ireland's training camp on Monday, O'Neill said: "I think we will try to be that bit more expansive if we can and deal with the ball a wee bit better.

"We are going to try to win the game and will try to find a way to win it. These players have been able to do that in the last couple of years."

O'Neill confirmed that Ireland had been practising penalties to prepare for the event of a shootout, but added that he hoped they could avoid the sudden-death scenario.

"The minute that the goal is scored that eradicates a lot of things," he said. "It eradicates extra time and it eradicates penalty kicks, so we'll want to try to score a goal.

"We may need a couple of goals -- keeping out Denmark for two games will be tough."

Ireland scored just 12 times in 10 qualifiers, and O'Neill said: "It would be lovely to have a prolific goal scorer that you can turn to.

"But if you don't have that you have to find other ways, and that's what we've had to do.

"We've been trying to find ways to win matches for a couple of years without possessing that goal scorer. It's a shame that, when I came in, [former captain] Robbie Keane [now 37] was the same age as me...

"But there is a terrific spirit in the team, a never say die spirit. We have to find that one more time."

Speaking alongside O'Neill, David Meyler, who captained Ireland in their final group game against Wales but missed the Copenhagen match through suspension, said he would volunteer to take a penalty.

Asked whether he was confident and taken them before, he said: "Yes."

"And he's missed," O'Neill added, referring to the training session.

Hull City's Meyler is expected to return to Ireland's midfield on Tuesday and said: "When you're watching, you're kicking every ball and are screaming. The lads did very well and we have to continue that and get to Russia."

Both O'Neill and Meyler gave their best wishes to former Ireland midfielder Liam Miller, whose struggle against cancer was made public on Monday.

"I gave Liam his debut at Celtic -- he did wonderfully well in a Champions League game one evening," the manager said, referring to a 2-0 victory over Lyon in 2003. "He was outstanding.

"The news we heard just recently, we did not know how bad it was. Obviously, all thoughts go out to him and his family and he's got three children as well.

"He's a very young man, 36 years of age. It puts things in perspective, does it not?"

Meyler, who was with Miller at Sunderland, added: "Our thoughts go out to him and his family.

"We are thinking of him and hoping that he can pull through. That comes from the whole team."

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