O’Neill hopeful as O’Shea and Long resume training

Sitting in a packed press conference room at the Bilino Polje Stadium in the immediate aftermath of Friday night’s draw in Zenica, O’Neill admitted he did not believe his team would be best served by trying to play out a 0-0 stalemate to secure their passage courtesy of the away goals rule.

Questions remain over the fitness of O’Shea and Long, so the Ireland boss may opt to stick with the same team that played in Zenica, deploying the pace and power of Long and Walters from the bench.

John O’Shea, who was also banned for the first leg, and Shane Long also trained yesterday as they continue their respective recoveries from hamstring and foot injuries.

Will John O’Shea return to central defence after missing the first leg through suspension, or will Ciaran Clark and Richard Keogh be allowed to prolong the partnership that worked well in the first leg?

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. I have to be mindful of the fact we are still a long way from qualifying.

Ireland thought they had beaten Bosnia in their first-leg encounter after scoring late in the tie, but they had to settle for a draw as Edin Dzeko grabbed an 85th-minute equaliser. “We will try to limit the mistakes and hopefully we can come out the other side”. “It’s going to be a tough game, we’ve got the away goal but we’ve got to go out there as if it’s 0-0 again”. Walters has, in the past, combined well with Shane Long, whose athleticism complements the Stoke City forward’s bullishness.

The Republic of defended well as a unit on the night, but could not hold out to the final whistle, with substitute Ognjen Vranjes delivering a fine assist to AS Roma hitman Dzeko, who scored his 45th worldwide goal.

“There was a feeling beforehand that a few players weren’t bothered about playing for their country but I haven’t witnessed or experienced it”.

“It is not a bad result, but we could have prevented the goal and held out the last 10 minutes”.

“They’re good players and you have to respect them, but we defended well and kept them at bay for most of the game”.

“Yes, I was concerned the game would be called off; the fog came down and it looked as if it was deepening in the second half for a period of time”. “Jon Walters is coming in and I hope nothing happens”.

“Robbie Keane is our leading goalscorer and there is a reason why he is”. O’Neill began in Bosnia with Burnley’s Stephen Ward at left-back but he has only played 12 minutes of club football in three months and it showed.

Begovic is convinced the tie remains on a knife edge as the sides prepare for the decisive second leg.