We've given ourselves a chance. Regardless of who you are, the experience most of these players have had of international football in a green shirt has been defeatist, negative and hopeless. Trapattoni told them they weren't good enough to compete at this level. Up to yesterday, they have largely had that hanging over their heads. If someone tells you your not good enough for long enough, you will eventually believe it.
I was concerned by the absence of positive language being used by players and management leading up to it. Talk is cheap too I said to myself. Doing is more important than talking. They needed to put in a performance, play some football, defend well, make some chances and not lose. In my book they ticked most of the boxes and in doing so have given ourselves a chance going into the last game. We did the same in Germany, Italy, USA and Japan. Tournament football is all about building as you go and minimising casualties and there will be casualties.
Hendrick wouldn't have been high on anyone's list of potential hero's going into yesterday's encounter but it was an inspiring display. Well done to him. Come Belgium and Italy, our dressing room won't be short of lads hoping to emulate him. We can analyse this til the cows come home but we're Irish. We might not be the best in the world but when we get a taste of belief we do extraordinary things.
Fupp the begrudgers!
(My first post since Stade De France 18 Nov 2009 (or thereabouts) - The day the music died...until yesterday.)
