The penalty was a dream start, but I think we were lulled into a false sense of security by how poor France were in the first half. We never reacted to the change at the half, Coman stretched us but it was Greizmann being freed up to play 10 that ripped us to shreds. How the fuck did we not recognize that and have someone glued to him?, although I suppose that begs the question who could do it? Not McCarthy anyway, nor Whelan either, wouldn’t have the pace. Something needed to be done though and we did nothing and let the lad run the show for the entire second half, they could have had 5 or 6.
Overall we did as well as can be expected with a limited squad. France are good to watch going forward, but that defense isn’t good enough to win the tournament. I think the Germans are going to win it, its looking like another mouthwatering Germany v France SF in a major tournament, and probably a German v Belgium Final.
I was calling out for it to anyone that would listen 5 mins into the second half…we had a lot of lads on empty second half and we should have made a change straight away.
Point out the stupidity there asswipe. Btw have you ever kicked a football? I’ll cut your ears off you dirty rodent, your sniveling does you no good and makes you looks like a prick
McCarthy shouldn’t be scapegoated either - he was one of our best players first half and put in a great shift against Italy during the week. It was clear early second half that his legs were starting to go, he should have been substituted sooner. His failure to cover runs in behind by Griezmann were lapses of concentration typical of a tired player.
Kudos to the water carrier, made the right substitution at halftime and sorted out the rest of them. They were a shambles at the end of the first half.
Probably an employer who was relieved that he’d be having his workforce back in on the Monday and workshy types like @dodgy_keeper no longer had an excuse to skive off.
Just in the door from the local , no way I’m reading 600 odd posts, did I miss anything??
The lads did us proud to be fair, I wonder if we had taken one of those chances to go 2 up would we have done it? The ref was good enough but how the fuck did he miss that deflection that should have been a corner, only a small thing but incredible decision.
Wes was very poor when he came on today, he continuously gave the ball back cheaply which was very disappointing, also fed up that Dunphy seems to have scapegoated the centre backs, Girouds header was just perfect, very often it’s impossible to defend something like that.
Nerve wracking but an enjoyable 90 minutes, the future isn’t exactly bright but it’s not the worst either.
A game that was there for the taking. Ultimately the better team won but I don’t think France are a particularly exceptional side.
Overall three good performances in this campaign and one bad one. Reasons to be optimistic for the World Cup qualifying campaign. Wales, Austria and Serbia don’t strike fear into anyone. We’ve developed a core of lads who will be around for the next two or three campaigns in Randolph, Coleman, Duffy, Hendrick, Long and McClean. There’s enough there to qualify for future tournaments.
Probably the end now for Robbie Keane and John O’Shea - two magnificent servants.
Absolutely out on our feet in the second half. Don’t know how much of it came across on the tv but the players were knackered. And we didn’t really get to bring on energy. Walters didn’t look fit, Hoolahan isn’t really a bundle of energy and O’Shea was the emergency change. But we didn’t have like for like replacements for McCarthy or Hendrick either and that’s where we tired most.
Don’t want to be too harsh but that was an incredibly disappointing cameo from Hoolahan. All the wrong decisions on the ball. Arrogance or selfishness or poor footballing brain or tiredness or whatever but he was extremely wasteful on the ball and was trying low reward high risk runs every time he got on the ball. Managers don’t have a vendetta against him, he’s unfortunate capable of being really really wasteful.
Could have a long list of players who excelled. Obviously it all went a bit awry in the second half but Robbie Brady was probably the best 90 minute player in an Irish shirt. He put in some running, he used the ball really well, got out of trouble all the time and looks absolutely at home in central midfield.
Thought Keogh and the two full backs were also really really good. Very solid, brilliantly determined. Duffy had a fine first half but seemed at fault for the second goal anyway on live viewing.
McCarthy was outstanding, absolutely outstanding in the first half. A really top class performance. Not sure if his legs went or how much he was responsible for the gaps in midfield before he went off but he looked world class before the break.
Hendrick was terrific too. He tired badly by the end but we couldn’t afford to replace him. That midfield balance with him and Brady and McCarthy looks like the future and a very bright future.
And Slab was terrific too. Really good on the ball. He gave Rami a torrid time but he combined that with a few lovely touches and helped us get up into their half. Really good performance.
What a game and day anyway. Wouldn’t have been able to stick that lead for much longer. It was equal parts thrilling and nerve racking.
, no way I’m reading 600 odd posts, did I miss anything??