Martin O’Neill insists that his sole focus is on the Ireland’s Nations League campaign after he rebuffed an approach from Stoke City.
The 65-year-old was in Switzerland yesterday to see his team draw Wales and Denmark in the newly formed competition aimed at replacing lacklustre friendlies.
First up for Ireland is a return to Cardiff on September 6 and they end in November with a trip to Copenhagen in a repeat of last year’s World Cup qualifying play-off. At the end of the three-nation mini-group in league B, in which teams face each other home and away, the top side gain promotion while the bottom side are relegated to the section beneath.
There is also the incentive of gaining a qualification route to Euro 2020 if Ireland fail to get there though the automatic route in the fixtures starting in March 2019.
It had looked likely only two weeks ago that O’Neill might not be still in charge of Ireland. While Stoke offered him their vacancy, O’Neill shunned a Premier League return and finally signed his contract extension with the FAI on Tuesday night.
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“Each time I’ve had opportunities elsewhere, I’ve decided to stay managing Ireland,” O’Neill said. “I think that experimentation now is pretty important with the squad because come September when the Uefa Nations League starts, you would like these players to have some experience of playing.
“We have that chance in big games too as we’ve got friendlies coming up against Turkey in March and France in May.”
Referencing the draw and the chance to avenge the play-off defeat by Denmark, O’Neill was adamant that his players will relish facing the Danes as much as he will.
“It’s a chance to get back at Denmark and I’m sure the players will feel the same,” he said.