Ireland's Euro 2020 Qualifying campaign began yesterday in Gibraltar. We won 1-0 on an awful pitch in horrendous conditions - but even allowing for that, this was awful from Ireland. Still, a win is a win and the poor performance will be quickly forgotten if we improve against Georgia on Tuesday. The Swiss, meanwhile, won 2-0 in Tbilisi to get their campaign off to a promising start. They play Denmark at home on Tuesday.
Damn but that was awful to watch. Ireland struggled against a team of part-timers. At this point in time I'm hoping Ireland doesn't qualify.
Last night's 1-0 win against Georgia was much, much better. It wasn't outstanding, and we still conspired to make the last ten minutes very nervy; but it was Ireland's best passing display since, probably, the loss to France in Euro 2016. We actually looked like a proper football team!
Final squad for Denmark and Gibraltar. Teenager Luca Connell gets a surprise callup (another highly rated English-born lad that we could cap-tie against Gibraltar)? Republic of Ireland Squad: Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Mark Travers (Bournemouth), Sean McDermott (Kristiansund BK); Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), John Egan (Sheffield United), Kevin Long (Burnley), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Greg Cunningham (Cardiff City); Midfielders: Alan Judge (Ipswich Town), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Luca Connell (Bolton Wanderers), Josh Cullen (Charlton Athletic), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth); Forwards: David McGoldrick (Sheffield United), Shane Long (Southampton), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Callum Robinson (Preston North End)
We may not qualify, but McCarthy does have it, doesn’t he? Denmark destroyed us in Dublin 18-20 months ago. 4-1 and it should have been more. And now here we are Denmark, drawing 1-1, unlucky not to have nicked a late (undeserved) winner. Yes, both sides have changed, but not by that much in 18-20 months.
Biggest match of the campaign so far is Thursday night in Dublin vs Switzerland. Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Mark Travers (Bournemouth), Kieran O’Hara (Burton Albion – on loan from Manchester United); Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Richard Keogh (Derby County), John Egan (Sheffield United), Kevin Long (Burnley), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United); Midfielders: Alan Judge (Ipswich Town), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Glenn Whelan (Hearts), Josh Cullen (Charlton Athletic – on loan from West Ham United), James McClean (Stoke City), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth); Forwards: Callum Robinson (Sheffield United), James Collins (Luton Town), Scott Hogan (Stoke City – on loan from Aston Villa), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United)
1-1 at home to Switzerland who were without Shaqiri might seem like 2 points dropped rather than 1 gained. However Switzerland were much the better side and they’ll probably be more pissed off than Ireland. McCarthy is the type of manager who is never going to manage the Liverpools and Real Madrids of this world, but he is exceptionally good at taking 11 mid-quality players and moulding them into a team. He won’t always get the result, won’t always qualify, will rarely win silverware, but his teams are difficult enough to defeat. Switzerland should have won that game, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1 something in that region, yet like the Denmark game, but for the woodwork, could have lost it. And they’ll be scratching their heads wondering how and why. I’m still not convinced we’ll qualify - goals scored is one of the tiebreakers and we simply don’t score enough - but should run it close.