The chase for the 2016 European Cup will take its next step on Saturday. Two teams attempting to qualify for the tournament will do battle in a match between Ireland and Girbaltar. The contest scheduled for 12 p.m. ET will be held at the Dublin Arena in Dublin and can be live streamed here free.
Ireland head coach Martin O'Neill had this to offer ahead of today's European qualifier (via BBC): "Gibraltar is a game we'd be expected to win, but it will be difficult enough for us. Gibraltar caused lots of problems for Poland. They got plenty of men behind the ball and showed great determination. The Poles only got the upper hand late in the game."
Dominance is expected from the Republic of Ireland against the group minnows, but O'Neill is asking for patience from the fervent crowd (via the Independent): "I have been there at Celtic in the Scottish Premier League, where the expectation is that you will swamp all over teams early in the matches," he explained. "When the early goal doesn't come, it can transmit itself to players. But I have enough experience in that field to be hopefully able to cope with those situations."
"If we don't get an early one, we have to be patient."
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: Ireland's Robbie Keane is amid a heated MVP race with his MLS counterpart, Obafemi Martins. The 34-year-old has 18 goals and nine assists in 28 appearances with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Ireland's Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Forde; Ward, O'Shea, Pearce, Wilson; Whelan, McGeady, McClean, Gibson; Keane, Doyle
Gibraltar's Projected Lineup (4-4-2): J. Perez, Wiseman, J. Chipolina, Artell, R. Casciaro, R. Chipolina, L. Casciaro, Bado, K. Casciaro, Walker, B. Perez
Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (via WhoScored).
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