Great survivor Seamus Coleman tells Ireland squad it's time to get tough
"Our goals are qualifying for tournaments," said the veteran. "To get to that level you need something else in your locker"
Seamus Coleman set the tone for a new era for Ireland as he admitted: "We have to toughen up our mindset to qualify".
Coleman, 35, is the great survivor of Irish football. He received his first senior international call-up in October 2010 and made his debut four months later in Ireland's first Nations Cup match, a 3-0 victory over Wales.
The Everton full-back is expected to start this evening after starting his 16th Premier League campaign for the Toffees last week and, if he does, it will be his 73rd cap.
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It will be his first under new Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, who is Coleman's seventh after Giovanni Trapattoni, Noel King, Martin O'Neill, Mick McCarthy, Stephen Kenny and John O'Shea.
Only Coleman and Robbie Brady were in the squad for Ireland's last major tournament appearance at Euro 2016 and, whether he is wearing the captain's armband against England or not, the Donegal veteran is the perfect candidate to remind Hallgrimsson's young guns what will be required to claw their way back onto the big stage.
"Listen, that’s the ultimate goal as an international player," stated Coleman. "It’s all well 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, what’s where you want to be."
Hallgrimsson made headlines a couple of weeks back when, addressing a fans forum, claimed that Ireland had been 'a bit too nice' and that 'sometimes you need a b*****d' in your team'.
He later clarified the comment, saying: 'Sometimes, you want to have a player on the pitch who will make the opponent feel uncomfortable. That is what I meant'.
Coleman never shirks a physical challenge and the new manager will look to the right-back to set the tone in that way, too.
"It would be nice to have more players like Séamus who have been doing it at a high level for a very long time," Hallgrimsson said yesterday.
"It would be nice to have - what's the word in English - a spine in the team that is always there, and you pick players to support that."
Asked about the Icelander's 'b*****d' remark, Coleman responded: "Ah, it was taken maybe a bit out of context. There is nothing wrong with being too nice around the place but you don't get to this level without having a little bit of bite.
"I've said it to the younger lads, our goals are qualifying for tournaments. I think what the manager said was meant in that context.
"To get to that level you need something else in your locker. We do need to understand why we are here. It is not just about picking up caps, it is about making the country proud.
"The fans are crying out for (tournaments). The fans deserve to be there. We have to toughen up our mindset to qualify."
Coleman has attempted to absorb as much information as possible from Hallgrimsson and his coaching team since the players hit the training ground last Sunday.
The emphasis will be on a direct style than was the case under Kenny. "We took in the information, I’m sure he can’t give us loads and loads in a short space of time," Coleman said.
"But we’ve taken in what he’s asked of us. Hopefully you’ll see traits of that, give the best account of ourselves, but obviously this is a long process as well and it will be the first step along the way as well.
"But the lads have trained well and took the information on board and really committed to doing what the manager asks of us."
And then there's the England factor. Coleman, in that regard, will be invaluable in terms of delivering key dressing-room messages as kick-off approaches.
"You can most certainly tap into the emotional side of it," he said. "But I think that goes, to be honest with you, for any time you put on that green jersey for Ireland and I get them lads into a huddle beforehand.
"As much and all as 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, some amazing journeys along the way for them lads, myself included, to get to this level.
"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 but you know we can’t just be gung-ho emotion, you have to have a smart head as well, for sure.
"For the younger lads, who have slowly but surely gained the experience of playing those big nations as well, nights like tonight become a bit more kind of normal.
"I know it’s England, but we’ve had some big games, big nations coming here. This is another one. Everyone is looking forward to the game. Can’t wait to get going now."
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