Seamus Coleman urges team-mates to handle pressure of playing for Ireland

Seamus Coleman has told his Republic of Ireland team-mates to relish the “heavy jersey” they pull on when they get the chance to represent their country.

The Everton defender spent his 37th birthday on Saturday helping to keep Cristiano Ronaldo and company largely at bay until Ruben Neves snatched an injury-time winner for Portugal in their World Cup qualifier in Lisbon.

A committed team display at the Jose Alvalade Stadium ultimately went unrewarded as Ireland shook off some of the uncertainty which had prompted head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson to admit the pressure of international football might be getting to some of his players.

However, the vastly-experienced Coleman said: “But is the jersey not supposed to be heavy? You are playing for Ireland. It’s pressure, but it is amazing pressure.

“It is heavy at times, but that’s a good thing. There are only 11 players who can be picked to play for your country at any given time and you are expected to get performances.

“And listen, I have been on the end of games like Luxembourg at home [an embarrassing 1-0 qualifier defeat in March 2021] and things like that and have taken the rap from you guys as well.

“It is part and parcel of it and you just have to find a way to keep going. So the jersey might be heavy, but it is supposed to be heavy.”

We dust ourselves down & go again at the Aviva on Tuesday