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Martin O\u2019Neill has tipped France as potential World Cup winners despite his former team-mate Age Hareide describing them as \u201cnothing special\u201d.<\/p>\nMartin O\u2019Neill has tipped France as potential World Cup winners despite his former team-mate Age Hareide describing them as \u201cnothing special\u201d.<\/p>\n
Denmark boss Hareide will lead his team into Group C battle with the French in Russia having seen his team comprehensively dispatch O\u2019Neill\u2019s Republic of Ireland in the play-offs in November.<\/p>\n
However, while he has played down the chances of Didier Deschamps\u2019 team making a significant impact, his Ireland counterpart is not so sure.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill, who will send the Republic into a friendly against France in Paris on Monday evening, said with a smile: \u201cDid he say that? Well, I know the Danish coach \u2013 I used to play with him. He\u2019s a very nice man \u2013 he wasn\u2019t such a great player himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s highly dangerous to talk about that. I think the French are individually well-equipped. The French have been strong for some time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe may be referring to, perhaps\u2026 there\u2019s a feeling sometimes that the French are not always united \u2013 all we needed was the example of (Adrien) Rabiot leaving the squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cPersonally, I think they\u2019re very strong. France, when they get together, will be strong in this competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will be disappointed to lose the final of European Championship, but overall they have as good a chance as anybody of winning the World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main thing is the extra experience they have had over the last couple of years. Qualification was fine. I disagree with the Danish manager. Individually, France have got very strong players indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill, who played with Hareide at Manchester City and Norwich, is likely to field a largely inexperienced team at the Stade de France almost two years after the sides last met in the last 16 of the Euro 2016 finals.<\/p>\n
Back then, Robbie Brady fired Ireland into a shock lead before they eventually lost 2-1.<\/p>\n
Asked if they would be taking it a little easier this time around, he replied: \u201cWell, we are unable to take things easy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be a big test for us, obviously. France are going to the World Cup. It\u2019s a big preparation game for them, and I know they\u2019ve got couple of other games before head to Russia.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, it\u2019s great preparation for the UEFA Nations League coming up in September, October and November. It\u2019s a big game for us and for a number of the inexperienced players we have in the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n