RTÉ PUNDIT EAMON Dunphy is optimistic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualification chances.
Sunday’s draw saw the Boys in Green pitted against Germany, Poland, Scotland, Georgia and Gibraltar in what is being widely-regarded as a difficult group with the top teams progressing to the finals in France and all but one third-placed side facing off in a two-legged play-off.
Under Giovanni Trapattoni, Ireland were humiliated by the Germans in a 6-1 defeat when they last visited Dublin in October 2012 but Dunphy believes they have nothing to fear now management team Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane are in charge.
“I don’t believe victory over Germany is impossible,” Dunphy said on RTÉ 2FM’s Game On last night.
“They’re so good that Sweden went there and drew 4-4 and then scored three goals against them in Stockholm. So they conceded seven goals to a poor Sweden team.
“The Germans have a good side but they have actually underachieved for all the talk that there has been. They have had flashes of brilliance but if you’re side is well organised, you’re fighting and if you’ve got a bit of quality you can get results from Germany — home and away.
I don’t think Martin O’Neill or Roy Keane are the kind of people who will send Ireland out with a defeatist attitude like Trapattoni did.
“In the worst case scenario, Germany beat us perhaps away, we get a draw at home. But we play what’s essentially a three-nation tournament for second place – Scotland, Poland and the Republic of Ireland.
“I don’t think that (qualification) is an impossible task, in fact I think it could easily be done if we’re doing our stuff.
“If they get the team playing as well as we can, I think we will be better than Scotland and better than Poland.”
Listen to the full Game On interview here
