Wales assistant manager John Hartson didn’t pull any punches when discussing the Republic of Ireland squad his side will face in World Cup 2018 qualification.
“Ireland are — and I follow the Republic of Ireland, I’ve played with a lot of the guys and played under Martin for five years — I just think that they’re going through a difficult period,” Hartson told the Irish Examiner yesterday.
“I don’t care if it was Jose Mourinho in charge. It’s not a fantastic group of players you’ve got.”
Some commentators felt Ireland’s chances of qualification for the tournament had been boosted by being drawn in the group with Wales, but Hartson doesn’t believe Martin O’Neill’s squad have the quality to threaten the top seeds.
“If this was the Ireland team of 10 years ago, with McGrath, Moran, Keane, McAteer, Quinn, and Robbie Keane as a youngster, I’d say, well, Ireland will thump us,” he said.
“But right now we’re in the ascendency and with the feelgood factor.”
Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale is credited with being the main reason Wales are currently flying high in the FIFA rankings.
“Yes, Gareth is a massive player but I would not say we are a one-man team,” Hartson insisted. “We’ve got a player who is one of the best three or four in the world and he’s inspiring the rest of the group.
“When you had Roy Keane and the players walked out alongside him, they grew 10 feet because they knew they had a leader, someone who could point the finger, both on the pitch and in the dressing room. And that lifts other players. It’s similar to what Gareth Bale is doing now. Wales are in a great moment.”
The Setanta Sports pundit has no doubt about how the group matches between the two nations will go.
“We’d beat Ireland all day long,” he said. “If we played now, we’d beat Ireland.
“You know it and I know it.”