Republic of Ireland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina; European Championship Qualifying Qualifying Play-Offs
Republic of Ireland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina. European Championship Qualifying Qualifying Play-Offs.
Aviva Stadium.
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Republic of Ireland v Bosnia-Herzegovina preview: All to play for at the Aviva Stadium
Tuesday 17 November 2015 12:46, UK
Republic of Ireland host Bosnia-Herzegovina in Dublin on Monday with their Euro 2016 qualifying play-off tie delicately balanced.
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the fog in Zenica on Friday evening, a result that gives the Republic a slim advantage heading into the return clash at the Aviva Stadium.
Republic manager Martin O'Neill knows that a goalless draw will be enough to see his team progress to next summer's European championship in France.
However, O'Neill has warned his players that relying on their away goal to seal their place in France next summer would be a "recipe for disaster".
"Obviously, it would be terrific if we could do it, but I have to be very, very mindful of the fact that we are a long way away from doing that," he said.
"We have to put things into perspective: Bosnia are capable of scoring, they could wipe that advantage, that away goal that we have within minutes of the game, and then suddenly they are on the front foot.
"If we think that we can keep them out for 90 minutes and camp ourselves just outside our own penalty area, that would be a recipe for disaster.
"We have to consider being really on the front foot, genuinely, and going and trying to win this game, and that's it.
"If you'd thought that we'd have to win in the Aviva for the final time, you probably would have taken that."
One player the Republic will need to keep a close eye on is Bosnia winger Edin Visca, who produced an impressive display in the first leg at the Bilino Polje Stadium, creating Edin Dzeko's late equaliser.
"They raid down the right-hand side because they've got a very, very fine right winger," O'Neill added. "What they want to do is try to get it out to the little lad, who is exceptionally talented.
"I think he could cause problems to anybody."
Team news
Forward Shane Long and defender John O'Shea trained with the Republic squad on Sunday morning and the duo could now be fit to face Bosnia after knee and hamstring injuries respectively.
Meanwhile, Stoke City striker Jonathan Walters will be back from suspension after missing the game in Zenica.
However, Daryl Murphy, who led the line in Long's absence in the first leg, was the only man to sit out the warm-up, while veteran goalkeeper Shay Given misses the match with a knee injury.
Opta stats
Republic of Ireland have scored exactly one goal in each of their last four internationals and have failed to find the back of the net in just one of their last nine.
Republic of Ireland ran out 1-0 winners in May 2012 - the only time these teams have met in Dublin.
Live Euro 2016 Qualifiers
Bosnia conceded a competition-high 58 per cent of their goals during the qualifying group stages in the 15 minutes leading up to half-time.
Both sides are in the play-offs for the second successive European Championship qualifying campaign (Bosnia lost to Portugal in 2012, while the Republic of Ireland beat Estonia).
Betting
Republic of Ireland are 4/7 with Sky Bet to book their place in the Euro 2016 finals on Monday night, with Bosnia and Herzegovina now 5/4 outsiders having been marginal odds-on favourites before the first leg. Martin O'Neill's men are 7/5 to progress with a victory and 13/2 to do so with a goalless draw, while the visitors are 11/5 for the victory and 5/1 to take the tie to extra-time with another 1-1 draw. Robbie Keane is considered the 9/2 favourite in the first goalscorer market while Edin Dzeko is rated the visitors' main threat at 6/1 to break the deadlock. Sky Bet have various Price Boosts available for the clash, including Dzeko to score in a Bosnia win being enhanced from 9/2 to 6/1.
