O'Neill optimistic ahead of possible World Cup decider in Cardiff
Republic beat Moldova to set up huge match with Wales
Martin O’Neill believes the Republic can beat Wales on Monday night in what could be an automatic world cup qualification decider.
After beating Moldova last night in Dublin, the Republic are just a point behind Wales in Group D.
And with leaders Serbia surprisingly beaten by Austria, qualifying for Russia is a close three-horse race.
If Serbia win their final game against Georgia then automatic qualification is theirs.
The Republic must beat Wales in Cardiff to have any chance of securing second spot and a possible play-off place.
Speaking after last night’s game, O’Neill said they were more than capable.
We are in with a fighting chance. We had to win tonight, we did that, so we go to Cardiff. We go and apply ourselves, really play very strongly and resolutely, and I think we can win the match,” he said
“`I felt it was always going to be like this. When we get off to a decent start, the mindset changes a little bit in terms of points.
But if you had said to me right at the beginning when the group was drawn that we would have to go to Wales and win - and we were down as fourth seeds - I would have taken it, so let's go for it.''
Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale is a notable absentee for Wales through injury but O’Neill insists that losing Seamus Coleman is as equally devastating for his side.
The Ireland skipper Coleman has been out of action since suffering a horrendous double leg fracture in a challenge by Neil Taylor when the sides met in Dublin back in March.
In his absence, his team-mates have given themselves a chance of securing one of the top two spots in Group D when the campaign draws to a close in Cardiff on Monday evening with Chris Coleman's side a point better off and the same distance behind leaders Serbia.
However, asked how much of an impact being without Bale through injury could have, O'Neill said: Wales would naturally miss a player of that calibre, but we've got a world-class player missing ourselves in Seamus Coleman.
He's been missing and in my mind, he's as big a loss to us as Gareth Bale is to Wales.
But Gareth Bale is a world-class player and of course, he's a major threat. Him not playing I think helps, but Wales have been able to win matches without him, so I think their mindset is still pretty strong, but so is ours.''
O'Neill will be able to call upon Robbie Brady and James McClean in Cardiff after both sat out against the Moldovans through suspension