REPUBLIC of Ireland midfielder Josh Cullen has acknowledged Cristiano Ronaldo is unbeatable in the air - and believes the only way to avoid a repeat of his late two-goal salvo that sunk the Irish in Faro back in September is to cut off the supply ahead of Thursday night’s sell-out in Dublin.
While the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualification interest expired some time ago, Cullen says it’s hugely important they sign off with two strong performances against the Portuguese and Luxembourg.
Portugal land in the Irish capital with eyes on top spot, and automatic qualification to the 2022 World Cup finals, and can displace Group A leaders Serbia with either draw or a win against Stephen Kenny’s men.
The visitors have an embarrassment of attacking riches including Bernardo Silva, Andre Silva, Diego Jota – but Ronaldo at 36 remains the team’s lynchpin.
On the striker's two uncanny headed goals against the Irish, Cullen said: “It’s probably trying to cut the supply to him a bit better.
“I don’t think you can really say anything about anyone trying to beat him in the air. That’s a very hard thing to do, so as a team we just have to try and cut off the supply to him as best we can.
“They have world class players all over the pitch. Of course we have to step up and perform on the night or we will get punished. I think it goes without saying that we have to be at the top of our game Thursday night if we want to put in a good performance and get a good result.”
“I’m sure that the manager and coaches that we have will come up with a solid game plan to do that.”
And, in Stephen Kenny, Cullen trusts completely.
Asked should the Dubliner be given another contract – his current one expires in July - and lead the Irish through the 2024 European Championship qualification campaign, the Anderlecht man couldn’t have been more emphatic.
“For me, 100 percent,” said the former U21 captain.
“I think the progression that the team has shown over the last year or so, working together has been really enjoyable. I probably speak on behalf of all of the lads that we’re fully behind the manager and believe in what he’s trying to do.
“We’re enjoying the style of football we’re playing and we’re starting to see the rewards results-wise, from the performances we’ve been putting in. For me, it’s a pretty straightforward answer, yeah 100 percent, I want the manager to stay.”
Cullen, who spent five years at West Ham before rolling the dice and joining Anderlecht in Belgium, added: “It goes without saying that it is very important to sign off in the best fashion we can.
“Every game we get to pull on the jersey for our country is a huge honour and we want to finish with two strong performances and finish the group with as many points as we can.
“We started the group too slowly, gave ourselves too much work to try and catch up but it is a transitional period for the squad and I think we can definitely take a lot of positives recently. I think that will stand us in good stead for the future campaigns.”
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old continues to go from strength to strength under former Manchester City defender, now Anderlecht boss Vincent Kompany, becoming a regular in Kompany’s midfield engine room and is equally valued by his international manager.
“I’d definitely encourage anyone who has the opportunity to do what I have done,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say to anyone to go abroad just for the sake of it. You have to look at it as a package as opposed to just the manager and the club.
“When I looked at that, everything seemed to fit together really nicely and I saw it as an opportunity to go and learn from a manager whose reputation speaks for itself.
“To play for a massive club that is held in high regard around Europe, historically, and has a lot of ambitions to get back to the top of Belgian football as well. All parts of the jigsaw fit together really nicely. Things are going really well at the minute but I have to keep my foot on the pedal and make sure that continues.”
