Martin O'Neill prepared to gamble to get Republic of Ireland into Euro 2016

Martin O'Neill accepts the strength of Ireland's group means they may need a play-off to qualify

MARTIN O'NEILL would settle for a Euro 2016 play-off place now as he prepares to send his Republic of Ireland team into clashes with Germany and Poland

 

Victory over either side would guarantee Ireland at least third place in Group D and a crack at making next summer's finals in France, while automatic qualification is not a mathematical impossibility.

They could still get there even if they lose both games as they enjoy a four-point advantage over closest rivals Scotland, but O'Neill is refusing to accept that they cannot do the job themselves ahead of Thursday's match with World Cup-winners Germany at the Aviva Stadium.

 

He said: "I'd take my chance in the play-offs if we can get into them. Who knows what might materialise?

"We have got two very difficult games coming up. We are playing the world champions, players who are playing Champions League football on a regular basis, players who have won a World Cup, players who have got the experience of going away from home and dealing with any given situation, and they are improving.

 

Robbie Keane is expected to play against Germany, despite his wife having given birth this week

"And we are playing Poland (on Sunday), who are very, very strong.

"Does that mean that we just give up? Absolutely not. We are going to go and show a bit of fighting spirit and a bit of ability and a bit of self-belief - which is very, very important - a bit of self-belief to know that when you have the ball, as we will have the ball at certain stages, that we try to manoeuvre it because we will get a chance to play."