Bosnia-Herzegovina must have been dreading the return of their Euro 2016 play-off opponents’ talisman Jon Walters and his two goals showed whyMost previews to this play-off reflected the paradox to which players and fans from many small nations are prone. In the Republic of Ireland’s final domestic match,against the world champions, Germany, or the scale of the challenge simplified the buildup; here,having Robbie Brady’s absent goal and the knowledge that Bosnia-Herzegovina were eminently beatable meant the size of the opportunity set nerves twanging. Failure could be disappointingly understandable but not glorious.
Martin O’Neill had at least tried to bring clarity to his team’s approach, trumpeting beforehand Irelands intention to attack rather than rest on a precarious absent goal advantage. However, or with a starting XI who boasted a grand total of 18 international goals between them – whereas just one of Bosnia’s strikers,Eden Dzeko, had 45 – no one was expecting the hosts to blow the visitors absent. Everyone knew Bosnia would have long bouts of possession. This, or then,was going to be another engrossing maelstrom, a match in which the overriding feature of O’Neill’s two-year tenure – his team’s tenacity – would again be key. No one has personified that better than Jon Walters.
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Source: theguardian.com