Seamus Coleman: 'I want a World Cup for all of the lads that are here, for the fans at home. I just want a World Cup for the country.'

Seamus Coleman

Seamus Coleman Credit: Michael P Ryan (ETPhotos)

The World Cup dream is here again and on the eve of another qualifying campaign kicking off for the Boys in Green, captain Seamus Coleman was positive about the task at hand.

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and if Seamus Coleman’s love for the green jersey is anything to go by, well then the Donegal man will be itching to get going tomorrow night and hopefully earn his 57th cap for his country.

Hard to believe but you have to go back to the latter months of 2019 to find the Everton clubman’s last international cap, a disappointing night all around for Coleman getting sent off on a night that Ireland suffered defeat to Switzerland.

“I can’t explain how much I’ve missed it,” said Coleman. “It has been something that has been on my mind. I love playing for my country and to get back in among the full squad and staff is an amazing feeling again.

“Ultimately though getting out there and pulling on that green shirt again is what I want and what we all want. I cannot wait to get started again.”

For a player as passionate as Coleman, the early days of Kenny’s reign will have been extremely difficult for him as he has had to watch from the side line.

“We’ve had some difficulties in the past number of months with COVID,” said the Ireland skipper.

“As players though you really just focus on getting yourself right and letting the manager and the coaching team decide the rest of it and decide what team they go with on the day.”

The Killybegs native could be forgiven for being a bit more selfish about his own international ambitions in terms of major tournaments having recently turned 32 but as ever with Coleman it is the good of others that he prefers to focus his energy and hard work on.

“My frame of mind is that I just want Ireland to get to the World Cup. It is never about my last chance this, my last chance that. I want to continue giving my best and playing for my country. When that ends, that ends but it’s never a case of what it might be for me personally. 



“I want a World Cup for all of the lads that are here, for the fans at home. I just want a World Cup for the country. There’s a far bigger picture than it being this could be Seamus Coleman’s last chance at a World Cup.”

The task at hand for the Boys in Green in Belgrade on Wednesday is an incredibly difficult one and there is a selection headache for Kenny in terms of who he opts to start with, following the withdrawal in the last few days of Conor Hourihane, Callum O’Dowda and Caoimhín Kelleher.

Coleman’s evergreen optimism for this Ireland side remains when the topic of their chances and ambitions are brought to the table and he has no doubt at all that they will perform to the best of their abilities as they go in search of a positive result.

“I know we’ve got some injuries in the last few days but we still have a strong squad. That’s part and parcel of international football, you are going to get the injuries in the last weekend fixtures before you meet up together but we’ve got players in here hungry to do well and extremely happy to be here representing their country. 

“It’s a tough game for us but like always as a squad we’ll give it our all. We need to make sure we get our campaign off on the right foot.”

The news that experienced campaigner Darren Randolph and next in line Caoimhin Kelleher are side lined for the international week ahead ensures that it will be one of Mark Travers or Gavin Bazunu between the sticks for the stern Serbian test with Travers expected to get the nod.



“I don’t know which one of them it will be but to be honest we’ve been blessed with Darren Randolph the past number of years. He has been so consistent but the young lads, both Mark and Gavin have been unbelievable honestly. They are both really good goalkeepers and very confident in themselves as well. Some of the saves these lads pull off is incredible.

“I think whichever one of them it is, they need to just enjoy it too, embrace it and let some of the senior lads take the pressure for what it is and how important it is.

In terms of Serbia and what Ireland can expect from their hosts, Coleman singled out well known stars he has come up against in recent years for Everton and expects a tough 90 minutes ahead.

“We know they’ve got some quality players, the wing backs are quite good and quite fast. They’ve got Tadic and Mitrovic as well. I’m sure they will be expected to go out and get a positive result but it’s up to us and go out and get that positive result for ourselves. I’m confident that we can get that result but that hasn’t changed for me because I’m always confident of this Ireland team.

“We want a good performance, a good result and to get the campaign off to the best possible start.”