Portugal V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 1st Sep 2021 - 2022 World Cup Qualifier

[Razors left peg]

Lads that 1st half is best we've played in years. Yes they have had chances but so have we. Its so encouraging

[Bielsa´s irish]

prepare to get robbed again in second half lads

[pineapple stu]

I don't understand this game.

How are Portugal so ineffective given their squad and how they started the game?

How do we look kind of dangerous on the rare occasions we get into their half?

I still think we'll lose, but I'm actually getting excited when we attack, which I hadn't expected.

This is the kind of game that makes you realise football is great. You wouldn't get this kind of upset in a lot of other sports!

[Bielsa´s irish]

Why Egan is not playing for Liverpool or MAN U ? because he is irish ??

[osarusan]

Portugal bossing the ball but apart from what our stupid passing at the back handed to them, they haven't created all that much. We are putting some decent (well, half-decent) spells of possession at times, and Idah doing well up front holding the ball up. Pity Connolly doesn't have his shooting boots on.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I've thought we've looked good going forward a lot under Kenney, but only in the "going": once we get around or in the box suddenly it all vanishes. Oh for a Robbie Keane-in-his-prime type of player, and we might be a few up.

[placid casual]

The ref looks a guarantee to give them another peno or certainly fall for their bull€hit. He knows the world is waiting to see Ronaldo score.
The lads up front look very very dangerous, although connolly is Jo finisher.
Doherty and Coleman have been outstanding, and the Irish back 3 are fighting to keep a clean sheet.
Can't see us holding out but at least we're trying to play a bit of ball, and as a fan of football, who's Irish, it's good to see.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Egan Coleman and Doherty have played very good, Connolly is lacking confidence but he created the goal after that saved, and looks the most dangerous still not confident enough the yellow on him was never a yellow Ronaldo elbowed a few...and nothing ...the referee looks like a crook but you can see he is a puppet you can see the strings on it ..... Awful refereee

[seanfhear]

I don't understand this game.

How are Portugal so ineffective given their squad and how they started the game?

How do we look kind of dangerous on the rare occasions we get into their half?

I still think we'll lose, but I'm actually getting excited when we attack, which I hadn't expected.

This is the kind of game that makes you realise football is great. You wouldn't get this kind of upset in a lot of other sports!
Ronaldo should probably really be on the bench at this stage of his career especially for International football. His legs were gone at the Euros. Perhaps the rest of the Portuguese know this.

[SkStu]

Best performance to date from Doherty in a green (albeit white) shirt. Coleman has been excellent. McGrath looks tailor made for this level. Cullen has been tidy and very effective with some of his passing. Idah and Connolly have caused massive problems for the Portuguese defense but have also missed opportunities. Bazunu saves a penalty in those circumstances. Ah stop lads. Every one of the 12 players has performed. All round a brilliant half and display from Kenny and his team. Exactly what i called for a couple of pages back. Another difficult 45 minutes ahead but...

[Bielsa´s irish]

The ref looks a guarantee to give them another peno or certainly fall for their bull€hit. He knows the world is waiting to see Ronaldo score.
The lads up front look very very dangerous, although connolly is Jo finisher.
Doherty and Coleman have been outstanding, and the Irish back 3 are fighting to keep a clean sheet.
Can't see us holding out but at least we're trying to play a bit of ball, and as a fan of football, who's Irish, it's good to see.

this totally agree... El referee es un chanta, un ladrón de gallinas...un cuatrero de campo, papá!!!

[Tipp Townie]

Omg lads..... I don't know if I can watch the second half... As has already been said - it's the hope that kills you

[Bielsa´s irish]

the officials are all scoundrels against the irish today. Remember the penalty 0-0 vs Serbia I think over Connolly and play on....

[paul_oshea]

Portugal bossing the ball but apart from what our stupid passing at the back handed to them, they haven't created all that much. We are putting some decent (well, half-decent) spells of possession at times, and Idah doing well up front holding the ball up. Pity Connolly doesn't have his shooting boots on.

He doesn't have any boots on

[NeverFeltBetter]

Really do feel the ref is going to screw us here. I'm convinced he didn't want to give that penalty but felt compelled to.

[Olé Olé]

This has has been the most fun half of Irish football in long time and we won it. We probably will lose but I've enjoyed this.

Back 5 have been good. Even Omobamidele has looked good since he has come in. Bazunu was silly in creating the penalty but hats off saving that.

Cullen looks good although it's difficult to assert yourself in the face of some of the Portuguese movement and McGrath has had some great moments too. Hendrick definitely the weak link in midfield. Keeps losing possession unnecessarily.

Idah has been really clever up front. His best half so far for me in terms of the return he has provided from the quality and volume of ball he's received. Connolly has been rash in terms of his shooting- poor shots and shooting when he should have his head up. That said, he's caused Portugal bother running at them and he keeps us pressing forward. There's a lot to say for it. He can take the ball to feet and do something other than turn back. He isn't perfect but there's something progressive in his hustle and bustle that keeps us going forward.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Rest assured Ronaldo would not have been ushered off the field by the ref if he had gone down.

[Olé Olé]

How is Adam Idah not playing regular Premiership football? He looks so at home here. Look at the opponents. I think we have such a player on our hands.

[paul_oshea]

Honestly can someone tell me what Connolly is at? We could have had a couple of goals if he'd a bit of cop on

[NeverFeltBetter]

Connolly going down a bit too easily today, second instance there. This ref isn't going to bite.

[paul_oshea]

Connolly going down a bit too easily today, second instance there. This ref isn't going to bite.

It's not just that he's losing and wasting our chances.

[brine3]

It's not just that he's losing and wasting our chances.

He won the corner we scored from

[Bielsa´s irish]

connolly is doing ok...needs to be a bit like rooney a bit nasty nasty otherwise he is gonna get bruised and bodychecked all the time....then his yellow was never

[SkStu]

Honestly can someone tell me what Connolly is at? We could have had a couple of goals if he'd a bit of cop on

He's been good and bad tonight Posh but you only see the bad. He should have thumped that chance at the goal though instead of trying to win a penalty.

[Bielsa´s irish]

doherty is the more argentinian of all the irish he even looks like any regular argie

[brine3]

There's a bit of Zanetti about him alright

[Bielsa´s irish]

big penalty there eh

[NeverFeltBetter]

Is it time to sacrifice Connolly for another defensive player? He's whinging for a penalty again there and I just don't see it. He should have hit that ball quicker.

[SkStu]

I actually thought that most recent one was a penalty - caught from behind in the act of shooting.

[Bielsa´s irish]

yes if their penalty was ...the conolly was twice

[Bielsa´s irish]

kenny needs to be a bit lioke MARTIN there talk a bit ....tiene que chamullar al 4 arbitro ...y meterle presión a la MON

[osarusan]

I think the contact on Connolly came just after he got the hooked shot away.

[Bielsa´s irish]

its mc clean for connolly

[pineapple stu]

Connolly is out of his depth here unfortunately

[dynamo kerry]

Just logged in to say dohertys best game in ages. Love the attitude

[NeverFeltBetter]

Idah's been a star so far. Full of fight.

[Bielsa´s irish]

brutal foul over connolly

[Bielsa´s irish]

el arbitro es un ladri

[NeverFeltBetter]

"Duffy trying to mark everything" sums it up so far.

[geysir]

It's torture waiting this long for the Connolly substitution.

[Bielsa´s irish]

the problem with connolly is that the ref will cjheck your shirt before awarding a foul for you heavy shirts and light shirts

[brine3]

Idah's been a star so far. Full of fight.

A storming performance

[Bielsa´s irish]

arter now please to keep the ball a bit and slow it

[Bielsa´s irish]

arter and KENNY a bit vocal like MARTIN plz

[pineapple stu]

This does have echoes of that famous day 20 years ago...

[NeverFeltBetter]

I can't take this lads.

[Olé Olé]

A storming performance
How many times has he stepped in front of Pepe or Dias, held them off and taken a lovely touch and turned or laid it off smartly. These aren't bums he's doing this against. It's actually amazing.

[pineapple stu]

Also are we getting close to breaking the Hampden hoodoo?

[NeverFeltBetter]

****, ****, ****. Devastating.

[SkStu]

awful shame.