2018 World Cup Qualifying Group D: Republic of Ireland v Serbia (Tonight, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm)
THE Aviva Stadium in Dublin this evening will be no place for the faithless.
It’s a defining night for Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill and his players.
Faith in the Kilrea man took a serious wobble in Tbilisi on Saturday night after the Republic escaped from the Georgian capital with a share of the spoils.
It wasn’t so much the 1-1 result; it was the manner of Ireland’s performance.
It was the worst in O’Neill’s four-year reign.
Even those who don’t pay much attention to the post-match statistics, it was hard to ignore just how outclassed the Irish team was by one of Group D's minnows.
Georgia owned 69 per cent of possession and passed the ball 568 times to Ireland’s 150.
Arguably the biggest criticism made of O’Neill since he took the reins in 2013 is the team’s eager commitment to playing the long ball.
And yet, in almost every pre-match press conference the manager has stressed the need for his players to keep the ball better.
But saying and doing are two entirely different things with this Irish team.
There is a steadfast refusal among the Republic’s defenders to play the ball through midfield.
For most of Saturday night’s qualifier the ball sailed over the heads of Harry Arter, Glenn Whelan and Robbie Brady.
Tbilisi showed up every Irish pockmark.
Shane Duffy and Ciaran Clark defended well but were desperately unproductive with the ball at their feet.
In the second half, under little pressure, they lashed the ball as far down the field as possible.
And they prepared themselves for another inevitable Georgian onslaught.
O’Neill has hinted at making changes ahead of tonight’s vital qualifier against group favourites Serbia.
Undoubtedly, these are the nights where the former Celtic manager and his assistant Roy Keane earn their sizeable salaries.
In fairness, the pair have managed the pressure points during their reign fairly well.
At Euro 2016, O’Neill was decisive in his team selections, particularly between the Belgian defeat and joyous Italian victory.
The stakes in Group D tonight are just as high.
There has been the predictable clamour to restore Wes Hoolahan – the team’s best ball retainer – to the starting line-up to face Serbia.
A niggling groin problem might prevent O’Neill from introducing the “lightly-raced” 35-year-old playmaker tonight.
But if Hoolahan is fit, it would be a major surprise if O’Neill doesn’t start him.
Robbie Brady, Harry Arter and Glenn Whelan would have no complaints if they were all axed tonight following their poor performances in Tbilisi.
But the trio might be spared as O’Neill seeks a positive reaction from them.
Arter has a major point to prove after his 61st minute substitution in Tbilisi. Nevertheless, O’Neill might be tempted to stick with the highly-rated Bournemouth midfielder who’s been a bit of a slow-burner on the international stage.
One thing was abundantly clear against Georgia: Brady didn’t get to grips with playing as the team’s furthest lying midfielder.
Clearly, it’s a role tailor-made for Hoolahan, and Brady could therefore be re-deployed at left-back to give the Irish team a better attacking dimension, with Stephen Ward making way.
With Jeff Hendrick ruled out again, the manager could toss a coin between Whelan and David Meyler – a player who always does well when called upon.
Daryl Murphy will also be pushing Shane Long and Jon Walters hard for an attacking berth.
Judging by some of his broadcast interviews after the 1-1 draw with Georgia, O’Neill has been visibly stung by the criticism.
A bit like Giovanni Trapattoni’s sides, although not to the same extent, this Republic of Ireland team don’t care much for aesthetics.
But their ugly style of play has been forgiven because the team qualified for Euro 2016 and performed admirably at the finals and, up until last weekend, the Republic’s qualification chances for next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia looked very favourable.
The complexion of a qualification group can change so abruptly, evidenced by last weekend's results.
With Wales getting a second wind and the physically imposing Serbs the most technically gifted, the Republic of Ireland suddenly look the third best team in Group D.
There will have been many one-on-ones with manager and player since Tbilisi, a lot of soul-searching and some hard team meetings.
The Republic will be better than three nights ago. Let’s face it, they couldn’t be any worse.
They showed guts and some guile to nab a 2-2 draw in Belgrade last year.
Another draw is probably the best that they can hope for against the more settled Serbs.
It could be night another faithless night in the capital.
Republic of Ireland XI (probable): Randolph, Christie, Brady, Clark, Duffy, Arter, Whelan, Hoolahan, McClean, Long, Walters
