14 June, 2017
Another defeat in Dublin this weekend and the Austrians can nearly certainly kiss goodbye to an automatic berth to what would be a first World Cup finals appearance in 20 years.
Martin O'Neill won't name his team until just before kick off and he didn't give much away today.
Even Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick, the stars of the nation's Euro 2016 finals campaign, were largely becalmed as a chance to take a huge stride towards Russian Federation very almost went begging, and they will have to be much better in their remaining four games if they are to make it to Russian Federation.
The 1-1 draw means Ireland maintain their four-point lead over the Austrians in Group D, although they were perhaps fortunate to emerge with a point on a night when they were second best for long periods. James McClean and Robbie Brady occupied the wings, Walters got the nod up front and Wes Hoolahan had to settle for a place on the bench.
Has Keane helped him mature from the team's bad boy to its main man?
The Derryman seemed aware that he could face potential action for speaking his mind, saying: "I know in this day and age you get fined".
THE WORLD of football has seen some impressive and ridiculous tattoos throughout the years.
"We'll be raring to go now come September".
We really missed Shane Long because, if we're going long, we need someone who can run in behind. But talking about Jon himself - he's not the quickest, but he's got a real knowledge of the game and he plays a really great role. You have got to get that balance right. "It's a foreign referee and maybe different to the way we play but it's a little bit disappointing".
"I think, as usual, you want players playing on the edge". He's using that experience that he's got of global football in a lot more of his game.
"This was two points dropped and it could have been an terrible lot worse if Austria were half a team and had the courage of their convictions".
Left-back Andreas Ullmer chose to walk up the aisle, not out at The Aviva today - choosing to get married on this of all weekends.
The three strikers in his squad - Guido Burgstaller, Michael Gregoritsch and Deni Alar have just 12 caps, but more significantly no worldwide goals, between them. The referee wasn't totally to blame for our performance in the first half, but I thought he was very poor in the game.
