Republic of Ireland defender Dara O'Shea insists the team has found "closure" following their agonizing penalty shootout exit against the Czech Republic, a defeat that officially ended their World Cup aspirations.
Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad let a two-goal advantage slip away at the Fortuna Arena, ultimately falling 4-3 on penalties in their play-off semi-final. The dramatic result propelled the Czechs into a decisive qualifying clash against Denmark, leaving the Irish side to pick up the pieces.
Ahead of Tuesday's friendly match against North Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium, O'Shea emphasized the importance of leaving the disappointment in Prague behind and redirecting their focus toward qualifying for Euro 2028.
"We've had closure, now we have to look forward to the next game, we can't keep dwelling on that because nothing can change. What's done is done," O'Shea stated.
The defender praised the squad's resilience, stressing the need to harness their recent progress into a strong showing in Dublin.
"We're professionals so you have to move onto the next game and it's really important everything we have created now and the confidence we have to go out tomorrow with a solid performance we're proud of and continue our run. We're building towards Euro 2028 now and it's important that we keep going in the right direction I feel like we have been and keep pushing on."
Looking ahead to the North Macedonia fixture, Hallgrimsson provided several key updates on the squad's availability. Robbie Brady will sit out the match due to a minor hamstring issue, joining Jack Taylor and Sammie Szmodics, who have already departed the camp.
However, the Irish side will be bolstered by the return of Liam Scales, who has served his suspension. Bosun Lawal is also in contention to play, alongside 26-year-old Portsmouth winger Millenic Alli, who is celebrating his maiden call-up to the senior national team.