The Republic of Ireland qualified for next year’s European Championship on Monday as Jonathan Walters returned from suspension to score both goals in a 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, securing a 3-1 aggregate win in their playoff.
Walters converted a penalty in the 24th minute after Ervin Zukanovic was harshly adjudged to have handled Daryl Murphy’s cross.
The Stoke City forward all but confirmed Ireland’s ticket to France with his second goal 20 minutes from fulltime to set off celebrations at the Aviva Stadium.
Photo: EPA
“The whole team on the pitch are heroes,” Walters said. “We got there in the end, we did it the hard way, but we got there.”
“You’ve got to take it in because these moments don’t come round often in a career,” he said.
Walters took his tally to five goals in his past six qualifying matches.
Photo: Reuters
“Walters is top of the lot. He has been sensational,” Ireland coach Martin O’Neill said.
It is to be Ireland’s second consecutive European Championship, while Bosnia-Herzegovina also lost in the playoffs for Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.
“Obviously I’m delighted for the nation, we will have a big following in France as befits the occasion, fans always turn out in great numbers, they were magnificent here tonight, they kept us going,” O’Neill said. “The last 15 minutes in the game were a long time.”
“Mostly I’m delighted for the players, they have been absolutely fantastic, and if they hold in me in any sort of regard, it’s minuscule by comparison to the esteem I hold them in,” he said.
There was a minute of silence before the match in honor of the 129 people killed and 350 wounded in Friday’s attacks in Paris. Some sections of the Bosnia-Herzegovina support did not observe the silence, which was further disturbed when they were jeered by other fans.
Bosnia-Herzegovina had never qualified for the Euros, while Ireland were unbeaten in their past six competitive matches at the Aviva Stadium and had the advantage of an away goal from the first leg.
However, Ireland were not content to sit back and defend and almost took an early lead, but Bosnia-Herzegovina goalkeeper Asmir Begovic got down well at his near post to block Robbie Brady’s cross.
The game was much more flowing than the first leg and Ireland had to weather a sustained period of pressure before breaking the deadlock.
Murphy crossed from the right side of the penalty area and the ball flashed off Zukanovic’s arm from point-blank range, with the defender clearly trying to pull his arm to his chest to avoid handling it.
Walters rolled the penalty into the bottom-left corner, sending former Stoke teammate Begovic the wrong way.
Edin Dzeko almost immediately leveled as Bosnia-Herzegovina threw men forward in search of the equalizer, but shot into the side netting.
The visitors came out with renewed intent in the second half and Haris Medunjanin’s free-kick was deflected just over the bar five minutes after the break. Moments later Edin Visca ran onto a through ball and cut back to Senad Lulic, who miskicked in front of goal.
Bosnia-Herzegovina’s hopes were all but ended in the 70th when Ognjen Vranjes could only help Brady’s free-kick toward the far post, where Walters was on hand to volley home.
Substitute Vedad Ibisevic hooked an effort off the bar from close range deep in stoppage time, moments before the referee blew the final whistle and the stadium erupted.
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