Jon Walters believes the Republic of Ireland are ready to exact revenge on Scotland next Saturday despite describing their warm-up against England as “a comfortable game” that posed little threat to Martin O’Neill’s team.
The Ireland manager claimed the insipid goalless draw against Roy Hodgson’s side had served its purpose in terms of improving match fitness ahead of next week’s European Championship qualifier, an admission that reflected the lack of incident and quality on display in Sunday’s friendly. “It was exactly what we needed,” said O’Neill. “The last 15 minutes we looked pretty tired but we started off brightly and maybe could have scored a couple of goals. We certainly had a couple of decent chances. It was good for us and from a physical viewpoint it couldn’t have been better timed.”
Ireland are fourth in Group D having lost to Gordon Strachan’s team in Glasgow in November and drawn at home to leaders Poland in their most recent qualifier in March. Walters, a second half substitute due to fitness concerns plus O’Neill’s desire to start the Ipswich Town strikers Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick, insists Ireland will be in shape for the crucial return meeting.
“We want revenge, of course we do,” said the Stoke City forward. “We need a win next week. It’s a massive game and we’re ready for it. I don’t think we got threatened too much by England. I thought our set-pieces were really dangerous. Robbie Brady put some unbelievable deliveries in and we were unfortunate not to sneak a goal from one of them. It was quite a comfortable game in the end really.
“I don’t think we got opened up too much or anything. We played pretty well and are quite happy with the performance. We were dangerous with the ball in different parts of the game. Players like Robbie and Aiden [McGeady] put in some great balls.”
John O’Shea suffered a calf injury during the game and Walters also had a problem towards the end of the stalemate. But O’Neill, who expects Robbie Keane to join the squad on Monday when he arrives from the United States, is confident the pair will be fit to face Scotland.
The manager said: “Jon was just feeling it a little bit but I think everybody will be OK. John O’Shea’s calf was tightening up on him, so I made a change there. It’s something he’s suffered a little bit from in the past and I’m hoping in the next couple of days he comes through that.”
