Ukraine V Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 14th June 2022 - 2022/23 UEFA Nations League

[pineapple stu]

O'Shea in for Egan too.

The FAI Twitter has "Festy" listed on the bench interestingly!

[Olé Olé]

Team named. Hogan for Obafemi and Lenihan for Duffy.

And O'Shea for Egan...

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1536762895333203969?s=20&t=orOmDKruc-NQMw0nvq7Gyw

[paul_oshea]

Going for a 1-1.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Impossible to know what to expect, but I think Ukraine will be too good for us again, though I doubt we'll be well beaten (on the scoreboard anyway). Be interesting to see how Ireland play in the first ten minutes, if it'll be huff-and-puff and possession dominance in that period again before they fall out of it.

[geysir]

Ukraine 3-1, green shoots from last game to wilt.

[pineapple stu]

Nice early save for Kelleher there - routine enough, but will help him settle in. I think it'll be needed

[centre mid]

Reasonable start so far without creating an opening.

[joey B]

Ah Troy… decent chance…

[pineapple stu]

Jaysus, that's a bad miss from Parrott.

Tricky one to score, but didn't need to send it that far wide

[passinginterest]

Very solid start. Great shape. Making good decision when to keep it or go longer. And that’s a pretty decent chance created for us.

[centre mid]

Aghh should've scored

[NeverFeltBetter]

Shocking miss from Parrott there. He has to hit the target at the very least, with the space he was given. Been alright so far, neither side looks exceptional.

[paul_oshea]

Was parrot in two minds. Very bad was a great chance. Troy spend the summer practicing headers.

We're much more clever so far tonight sitting deep letting them play it in front of us like in Gaelic not getting sucked in.its just a pity we don't have obafemi or maybe even ogbene for the counter

[paul_oshea]

Very solid start. Great shape. Making good decision when to keep it or go longer. And that’s a pretty decent chance created for us.

Ya I guess this is what Kenny's learnt from the last day no gung ho getting pulled and dragged across the pitch. Low block out of possession and keeping them at arms length thus far

[joey B]

Lucky to get away with that one…

[Olé Olé]

Shocking miss from Parrott there. He has to hit the target at the very least, with the space he was given. Been alright so far, neither side looks exceptional.

Such a beautiful pass by Knight, although Parrott was unmarked. Knight took the ball on and passed up the opportunity for the first time cross.

I think we are playing well. Lenihan and Browne should have figured that Mykolenko run out between them. Other than that lapse, we are looking good. But the lapse is a concern.

Hogan isn't creating many problems, I'm afraid. Let's hope Troy or Knight can give him a good chance though and you'd hope he can tuck it away. Otherwise, I can't see him creating one.

[SkStu]

Collins, lads. This guy is unbelievably good. Gonna be huge. Makes it all look so easy - tackling, passing, harrying, shepherding. Unreal.

[pineapple stu]

Collins, lads. This guy is unbelievably good. Gonna be huge. Makes it all look so easy - tackling, passing, harrying, shepherding. Unreal.

Got the nod-down to O'Shea without even jumping there

[third policeman]

Was very sceptical about Browne at RWB but he looks very comfortable there.

[joey B]

Collins

[passinginterest]

Hogan really looking a weak link. What a goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Franco Baresi or Lothar Matheus would be proud of that!

[pineapple stu]

What an utterly absurd goal from a centre-back!

[paul_oshea]

Who said Collins coming onto the ball? Play him central midfield!

[SkStu]

Cullen, Molumby, Knight is proving a great combo again. I like the look of it again.

Hogan is working hard but he is a little off the standard required at this level. Touch etc.

[centre mid]

What a goal

[SkStu]

Ah lads. Stop. That goal. The guy is an absolute genius.

Outside of the boot and all.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Oh, that was special. Absolutely brilliant individual goal. Think StSku is onto something!

[joey B]

I’m shook,that was incredible!!

[Olé Olé]

Believe the hype. This guy is amazing.

[third policeman]

Just put £20m on his transfer fee.

[paul_oshea]

He really looked like a man against boys running onto the ball and through them there.

[pineapple stu]

Because why would you not want to watch that again already?

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[paul_oshea]

Really can you just imagine Collins in midfield?

[centre mid]

Turning into a very impressive performance, Ukraine are rattled.

[passinginterest]

Might regret if we don’t get a second in this spell. They really look shook.

[third policeman]

Who needs Declan Rice.

[joey B]

Darragh Lenihan does not look out of place at all…

[NeverFeltBetter]

Should be a yellow for simulation there, if the ref had more balls.

[paul_oshea]

Good first half, our shape is much better , not such a high line and not getting exposed for pace or in behind on counters bar the one over the top of Browne.

It's early in the game but dare I say it has the penny finally dropped for Kenny?

[centre mid]

Very tidy half of football. Hogan maybe has struggled a little but overall no complaints. Midfield looks solid and energetic. Collins imperious.

[passinginterest]

What an impressive half. Having three really comfortable footballers at the back makes a huge difference and with the middle three in front of them all being terriers and good on the turn it makes us very hard to play against. We’ve pressed the life out of Ukraine and then we’ve used the ball smartly for the most part when we’ve had it. It’s a pity Hogan doesn’t have a little more about him when it arrives at his feet. Seemed to have picked up a knock so may not see second half.

[tommy_c12000]

Surely not POS?

Solid first half. Mixed it up playing wise. Browne exposed at RWB, I would love to see Festy on in his place, less risk IMO given how badly Browne was caught out with simple ball over the top with no pace. Kelleher solid. Centre backs solid, Collins destined for the top. Centre midfield solid. Knight and Parrott continue to develop and impress. Hogan not doing a whole lot, dare I say it…Will Keane time? Or Ogbene time with Parrott playing more advanced and Ogbene dropping?

[pineapple stu]

Ukraine starting to get on top the last while. I think half-time has come at a good time, but we're fairly good at defending and have been throughout the Kenny reign really.

Wasn't expecting this tbh. Very positive stuff

[liamoo11]

Good first half, our shape is much better , not such a high line and not getting exposed for pace or in behind on counters bar the one over the top of Browne.

It's early in the game but dare I say it has the penny finally dropped for Kenny?

It's utterly different to how Kenny had been setting up and trying to play before the Scotland game. I saw him say he tweaked the formation against Scotland but played the same way which is totpal nonsense as the formation is fundamentalky different and the style is far far less possesion based

[NeverFeltBetter]

Fell out of it a bit after the goal, and Ukraine were making me nervous in extra time, but overall it's been quite good. If they can hold on to this I will be impressed enough to possibly re-evaluate my desire for Kenny to be sacked tomorrow. Possibly.

[SkStu]

I think i have highlighted most of the positives already from that half, in particular Collins and the midfield trio. It has been very good across the back 3 / 5, actually, O'Shea quietly effective and Lenihan solid too. No heart in the mouth moments from those 3. McClean has stepped into the captain role with ease and is actually as calm as i have seen him. Browne looks like an interim option at RWB in the absence of Doherty and the decline of Coleman while we wait for other options to emerge there, he's done very well and looks calm. I'd keep Hogan on for a little longer and then might look at CR to replace him. It would be interesting to see how him and Parrott would function in a front 2.

Generally speaking though, we have created a lot with a good mix of possession retention and playing into the channels. Some great passages of passing play that created good crosses and some decent chances. We could have 2 or 3 really.

Ukraine have looked dangerous at times though and we'll have to keep the energy levels and focus up. They had us under pressure at the end there so I'm curious what tweaks Kenny might make.

[the 12 th man]

Collins is a Limousine of a player,he actually won a header to break up their attack before latching on to the loose ball for the goal.

[sbgawa]

This Irish team are psychotic in terms of who or what performance is going to show up

[TonyD]

Collins, lads. This guy is unbelievably good. Gonna be huge. Makes it all look so easy - tackling, passing, harrying, shepherding. Unreal.

And that was before the goal ! He’s looked imperious tonight. An absolute star. Future Irish captain surely.

Have we ever had a run of three goals of that quality before ? Not in my memory anyway.

[SkStu]

Tight 5 lads…