Seamus Coleman warns Republic not to be ‘gung-ho with emotion’ against England
Ireland will run out under the charge of new manager Heimir Hallgrimsson.
Seamus Coleman has told the Republic of Ireland to play with their heads rather than their hearts when they launch their new Nations League campaign against England on Saturday.
Clashes between the neighbours from either side of the Irish Sea always have an added edge given the two nations’ shared history and political differences, and the chance to get one over on the old enemy, as Ireland did at Euro ’88, is one generations of Republic players have relished.
However, 35-year-old Everton full-back Coleman knows too much emotion can be counter-productive and has urged his team-mates to be “smart” as they look for another famous victory.
“You can tap into the emotional side of it all because it is about the historic game and England our rivals coming over. For us lads, we’re representing our country, unbelievably proud to do so as well.
“There are some amazing journeys along the way for those lads, myself included, to get to this level. We can tap into the emotional side, of course, it doesn’t matter if that’s England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, it doesn’t matter because you’re playing for your country.
“Hopefully we can do that in a positive way tomorrow. But we can’t just be gung-ho with emotion, you have to have a smart head as well for sure.”
Under Southgate, the Three Lions reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the finals of both Euro 2020 and 2024 and Coleman, a veteran of Ireland’s Euro 2016 campaign, knows making it to major tournaments is how good teams are judged.
He said: “Listen, that’s the ultimate goal as an international player. It’s all well and good gathering caps and all the rest, but when it’s all said and done, you put your feet up and you’re retired, we’ll look back on the memories of France 2016.
“I think that’s where this group, the younger lads, should be aspiring to get to – major tournaments – because that’s why we do it, that’s where you want to be.”
But asked what would be a good return from the two games, the Icelander replied: “Four points is good, six is better.”
