NIALL QUINN now believes Scotland are ahead of Ireland in the race to qualify for the Euro 2016 Final in France. The 91-times capped striker, whose international career spanned 1986 to 2002, thinks Gordon Strachans team are now in the driving seat after Fridays 1-0 win at Celtic Park. After four games, Poland lead the group with 10 points while world champions Germany, the Scots and the Irish are locked on seven. Quinn said: The defeat is a big backward step for Ireland. There was a huge belief before this match after the results against Georgia and Germany. But its now difficult to see us finishing above Scotland and Poland, never mind Germany. There was endeavour from the Irish players, but the creativity was lacking. I think the atmosphere got to one or two of the Ireland of whom more was expected. Aiden McGeady had 72 caps going into the game. He was playing on the same side of the field as Andrew Robertson, with three caps. Robertson enjoyed himself. He was really good, a young lad who showed no fear. I think the fact that the first few things McGeady did were wrong certainly didnt help him. He got himself booked and the crowd got at him. I think he let the occasion get to him and for a player with his experience that is disappointing. The former Arsenal frontman added: Steven Naismith and Shaun Maloney were so active and tried to be creative throughout. Their Irish counterparts were just happy to keep the ball up the park. We had two or three corner-kicks before the Scots got theirs. Our efforts went straight into their goalkeepers hands. When Scotland got one, it was obvious they had worked on it in training. Again, that was more creativity than the Irish showed and it was a great finish from Maloney. There was only one kick of the ball between the two sides in the end. That might not even have been the case when you take into consideration the header from Grant Hanley that hit his own crossbar near the end. An inch or two lower and that could have been a goal. But, overall, Scotland deserved the win.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 11:52:20 +0000
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