With the Republic of Ireland facing Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday in the Euro 2016 qualifying play-offs, Ben McAleer says the key battle will be between Miralem Pjanic and James McCarthy.
The hopes of a nation rest on the players Ireland selected last
week to represent their country in the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifying
play-offs. The stand-out tie is arguably Denmark vs Sweden, where
rivalries are renewed between the two Scandinavian powerhouses, though
it’s a little closer to home where much of the focus has settled, with
Republic of Ireland in action.
With Northern Ireland, Wales and England guaranteed a place at
France 2016 already, attentions turn to the Boys in Green as Martin
O’Neill’s side strive to qualify for back-to-back European
Championships. Bosnia and Herzegovina stand between Ireland and a place
in the competition, an obstacle that will indeed be difficult to
overcome.
There is ample quality running all the way through Mehmed Bazdarevic’s
side, with a number of key players plying their trade for a team in
Europe’s top 5 leagues. Of course, one of those to stand out is
playmaker Miralem Pjanic. The Roma star has gained a WhoScored.com
rating of 7.73 this season - only Palermo’s Franco Vazquez (7.80) can better that return in Serie A.
No player has registered more assists in Italy’s top tier this
term than the 25-year-old (5), who ranks joint top for key passes (30),
second only to Lorenzo Insigne (7) for clear-cut chances created (6) and
fourth for successful final-third passes with 198 in Serie A so far.
Having made two fewer league appearances than those ahead of him for the
latter stats, it’s feasible to suggest he would be higher in both
rankings had he featured in all 12 matches.
While he sat out Sunday’s Rome Derby through suspension, Pjanic has rapidly emerged as Roma’s most important player, with the Bosnian I Giallorossi’s
creative hub. In short - nigh-on everything goes through Pjanic. He has
been directly involved in 10 - five goals and five assists - of their
27 league goals this season. Only the league’s joint-top goalscorers Gonzalo Higuaín and Eder (both 11 - 9 goals each) have directly contributed to more of their team’s goals than the Roma star.
If Ireland are to come away from Zenica with a positive result
on Friday, they must stem the flow of chances Pjanic will inevitably
create. This is where James McCarthy comes into play. The Everton
midfielder has once again established himself as one the club’s most
important players, with his average of 2.7 tackles per game second
behind teenage left-back Brendan Galloway (3.1) of all Toffees players.
Miralem Pjanic on the move for Bosnia and Herzegovina - Imago
The tenacity he brings to his club will be crucial for his
country in their double-header against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pjanic’s
21 key passes from open play ranks among the top 10 players in Serie A
this season, further accentuating the Roma midfielder’s creative
expertise. To spot such an opening when play is in full swing is one of
Pjanic’s strongest traits and it’s one that is held in such high esteem.
Over the 90 minutes, McCarthy must do all he can to hinder Bosnia’s
creator-in-chief.
Meanwhile, his ability from set pieces is another quality that
Ireland must be wary of. Pjanic has scored more free kicks (3) than any
other player in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season. Moreover, his effort
in the enthralling 4-4 draw with Bayer Leverkusen last month was another example of his prolificacy from dead-ball situations.
Factor in McCarthy’s ill-discipline - the battling midfielder
has received more yellow cards (4) than any other Everton player this
season - and Bosnia potentially have another route to goal.
Friday's hosts will look to make their advantage count when they
welcome Ireland and it’s Pjanic who has the ability to swing the tie in
his side’s favour. In McCarthy, though, the visitors boast an able
performer who, on his day, can mark players out of the game, much like
he did against Germany last month. If McCarthy plays to expectations,
limiting Pjanic’s influence in the process, Ireland stand a much
stronger chance of progressing to Euro 2016.
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