Facing England can't be about 'gung-ho emotion'

Republic of Ireland skipper Seamus Coleman hopes to pat into nan affectional broadside of facing England, but insists he will tackle Saturday's much-anticipated Nations League gathering pinch a "smart head".

While nan seasoned Irish skipper, 35, has faced England earlier successful 2 friendlies, he is expected to lead his broadside retired against nan Three Lions for nan first clip successful a competitory mounting this weekend.

Coleman missed nan Republic of Ireland's 3-0 friends conclusion by England astatine Wembley successful 2020 having featured successful nan 1-1 tie astatine nan aforesaid venue successful 2013 and scoreless stalemate successful Dublin 2 years later.

"You tin astir surely pat into nan affectional broadside of it but I deliberation that goes with, to beryllium honest, immoderate clip you put connected that greenish jersey for Ireland," said Coleman, who is successful statement to triumph his 73rd cap.

"As overmuch arsenic it is astir this historical crippled and England our rivals coming over, for america lads we're representing our country. Unbelievably proud to do truthful arsenic well.

"We tin pat into nan affectional broadside arsenic well, whether that's England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland because you're playing for your country. Hopefully we tin do that successful a affirmative measurement tomorrow, but it can't conscionable beryllium gung-ho emotion, you person to person a smart caput arsenic good for sure."

Having made his debut successful February 2011, Coleman is nan Republic of Ireland's longest-serving player.

With Heimir Hallgrimsson installed arsenic boss, Coleman is besides group to characteristic nether his 5th head astatine world level having featured successful nan reigns of Giovanni Trapattoni, Martin O'Neill, Mick McCarthy and Stephen Kenny.

Coleman is 1 of only 2 Republic of Ireland players to person played astatine a tournament, too, pinch some he and Robbie Brady portion of nan country's Euro 2016 squad.

And he insists nan team's harvest of younger players must aspire to scope nan finals of a tournament, pinch nan country's past World Cup quality coming backmost successful 2002.

"That's nan eventual extremity arsenic an world player," said Coleman, who has been Republic of Ireland's skipper since 2016.

"It's each good and bully gathering caps but erstwhile each is said and done and you person your feet up erstwhile you're retired, you'll look backmost astatine nan memories of France successful 2016.

"That's wherever this group now, nan younger lads, should beryllium aspiring to get to, nan awesome tournaments, because that's why you do it and that's wherever we want to be."

He added: "We request to understand why we're here. It's not to prime up caps, it's to make nan state proud and nan fans are crying retired for tournaments.

"When you're sitting astatine location and you're watching them successful nan summer, you want to beryllium location and nan fans merit to beryllium there.

"Maybe we person to toughen up our mindset and make judge that qualifying is astatine nan forefront."