INJURED REPUBLIC OF IRELAND goalkeeper Shay Given hopes manager Martin O’Neill goes for the juggular in Monday night’s Euro 2016 play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ireland secured a 1-1 away draw in Zenica last night, with Edin Džeko cancelling out Robbie Brady’s opener.
A knee injury ruled Given out of the tie.
The Liffordman was carried off during the first half of last month’s 1-0 win over Germany in Dublin and hasn’t played since having had an operation following a reoccurence of the injury.
Given played in the World Cup in 2002 and in Euro 2012. He’ll be 40 by the time next year’s finals come around in Paris, but he hopes to be involved.
“It’s a big result for us,” Given, who was a guest on BBC’s Football Focus, said.
“We’d have taken that before the game. It wasn’t a great game and it wasn’t a great spectacle, but it’s a big, big result.
“I really fancy our chances. I wasn’t overly impressed with Bosnia last night. We can’t be over confident or get carried away, but we have a great chance of going to France.”
Despite Brady’s away goal from last night, Given believes that Ireland shouldn’t try to hold what they have.
“After watching Bosnia, it gives me more belief that we have got to attack them on Monday night,” he said.
“We have the players in the squad to do that. I wouldn’t want to go to Dublin and think: ‘Let’s sit for a nil-nil and sit tight.”
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