Soccer

No complacency from captain Seamus Coleman ahead of Georgia clash

Republic of Ireland's Seamus Coleman during a training session at FAI National Training Centre, Dublin.  
Republic of Ireland's Seamus Coleman during a training session at FAI National Training Centre, Dublin.   Republic of Ireland's Seamus Coleman during a training session at FAI National Training Centre, Dublin.  

POOR timekeeping clearly bugs Seamus Coleman. Maybe that was part of Everton’s problem under Roberto Martinez’s ill-fated stewardship at Goodison Park last season.

The Republic of Ireland captain has been impressed with new club boss Ronald Koeman, even if the Dutchman wasn’t too enamoured with the Killybegs native starting last month’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia without playing for Everton after injury.

“We’ve had a couple of disappointing seasons,” said Coleman.

“Unfortunately finishing 11th is not where a club like Everton should be finishing. But the manager has come in, he’s worked hard and I think you always get a reaction when a new manager comes in. He sets a few standards that should have happened in the previous campaign.

“Things like timekeeping and making sure people are in on time – just little standards that should be the case – and just sharpening the place all round. The lads on the pitch know that we have to perform otherwise we won’t be on the team. That’s the way it should be, really.”

Despite Koeman’s annoyance at Coleman playing the entire 90 minutes in Belgrade last month, the Everton right back said he was good to go.

“As a player, you just want to play,” said Coleman, who will win his 40th international cap tonight. The club wants you fit, your country wants you fit. If I’m not feeling any niggles or concerns I’ll play for Ireland or Everton. There are no complications about it or no big dramas. If I’m fit I’ll play and that’s the way it should be.”

Coleman wasn’t taking anything for granted ahead of tonight’s Group D qualifier against Georgia and recalled just how tight the previous two encounters with them – in Euro 2016 qualification – were.

“We know a lot about them from the last campaign,” said the Donegal man. “We needed a little bit of magic from Aiden McGeady out there [in Tbilisi] and at home as well, it took us a while for Jonny [Walters] to get his goal (see inset).

“They beat Spain in a friendly match not so long ago, and we’ll all have to be on our game to get a result tomorrow night.”

Meanwhile, Republic boss Martin O’Neill says he has no problems with dealing with rising expectations in the country following the team’s exploits at last ummer’s Euro finals in France, where they reached the knock-out stages.

“I was obviously delighted in qualifying for the Euros,” said O’Neill.

“We beat Germany, who were world champions, and that gave us an enormous boost of confidence and I think it awakened the nation. That was important.

“But beating Bosnia [in the play-offs] ranks as one of the great evenings and to follow it up with some good performances in France definitely gave us a boost.

“Do you know, I don’t mind people having rising expectations. That’s what it’s all about. From my point of view, it’s dealing with those things and trying to have a realistic outlook about where we’re going and what we’re trying to do and obviously trying to qualify for Russia.

“There’ll be ups and downs, twists and turns, as in every other group, but we’ve got to try and play to our maximum in each game if we can.”

O’Neill added: “We have to qualify again. These games are played in winter time; we’ve tough games in March. The games are spread out for a long period of time. It’s about trying to win matches, particularly when you’re not playing brilliantly.”