Juventus -v- Shamrock Rovers
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Shamrock Rovers face a peculiar dilemma as they face Italian giants
Juventus in the second leg of their Europa League 3rd qualifying round
in Modena on Thursday night. (Live on RTE 2, 7.45pm)
Having lost the first leg 2-0 in Tallaght a week ago manager, Michael O’Neill, accepts that the Hoops have little hope of winning the tie and with a potentially decisive league encounter with arch rivals Bohemians to follow on Sunday afternoon there is a decision to be made about how much of Rovers resources should be dedicated to this game.
It will take all of O’Neill’s guile to ensure that he puts out a side that can maintain their dignity in Italy while allowing for a fresh and motivated performance against Bohemians. But given the quality of Juventus’ play in the first leg it is hard to imagine that anything less than Rovers’ strongest team can reasonably expect to escape from this second leg their pride intact.
A key factor in this balancing act will be the extent to which Juventus are motivated to pursue their superiority. As O’Neill suggested after last week’s game, Juve could probably put out an entirely different starting eleven without suffering a drop in quality.
With a 2-0 lead from their away leg, the Rovers boss will be hoping that his opponents see this game as a job already done but the words of his opposite number, Luigi Del Neri, on the Juventus website indicate that this is unlikely to be the case.
In the build up to Thursday’s game Del Neri said, “It is not my habit to change much in a winning team. A lack of concentration would make me very angry but I think that the lads will have the right attitude because they know it is vital to give their best. Therefore, I expect a proof of character against a very physical team that can create problems for us. Relaxation is an enemy of football and a word we must abolish from our vocabulary”.
Extratime prediction: Juve will be too strong for Rovers; 4-0 home win.
Having lost the first leg 2-0 in Tallaght a week ago manager, Michael O’Neill, accepts that the Hoops have little hope of winning the tie and with a potentially decisive league encounter with arch rivals Bohemians to follow on Sunday afternoon there is a decision to be made about how much of Rovers resources should be dedicated to this game.
It will take all of O’Neill’s guile to ensure that he puts out a side that can maintain their dignity in Italy while allowing for a fresh and motivated performance against Bohemians. But given the quality of Juventus’ play in the first leg it is hard to imagine that anything less than Rovers’ strongest team can reasonably expect to escape from this second leg their pride intact.
A key factor in this balancing act will be the extent to which Juventus are motivated to pursue their superiority. As O’Neill suggested after last week’s game, Juve could probably put out an entirely different starting eleven without suffering a drop in quality.
With a 2-0 lead from their away leg, the Rovers boss will be hoping that his opponents see this game as a job already done but the words of his opposite number, Luigi Del Neri, on the Juventus website indicate that this is unlikely to be the case.
In the build up to Thursday’s game Del Neri said, “It is not my habit to change much in a winning team. A lack of concentration would make me very angry but I think that the lads will have the right attitude because they know it is vital to give their best. Therefore, I expect a proof of character against a very physical team that can create problems for us. Relaxation is an enemy of football and a word we must abolish from our vocabulary”.
Extratime prediction: Juve will be too strong for Rovers; 4-0 home win.
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and … View Full Profile