Manly hugs all round.
We did it the hard way, having to beat Germany to make up for lost ground and beat a higher ranked team (a team that's better than Wales !!) in the play offs.
Not that it's our issue but Bosnia badly need a better manager.
Manly hugs all round.
We did it the hard way, having to beat Germany to make up for lost ground and beat a higher ranked team (a team that's better than Wales !!) in the play offs.
Not that it's our issue but Bosnia badly need a better manager.
Thought that was one of the most mature Irish performances in a pressure game that I've ever seen. Clutch, as they say. Fantastic stuff in defence and Walters is the most lovable irish player in an age. Bosnians beat themselves psychologically - that (non-Serbian) Balkan inferiority complex rears its head again.
Eire abu!!
Congrats to MON and R. Keano. They had a rough ride early on but they have started to click! The odd couple now the perfect match!
A few hairy moments, I think of one in particular when it was obvious the ball was gonna be pulled back so
the bosnia player went to that position, our defence parted like the red sea, the ball was pulled back
the goal wide open but he fluffed his shot.
Who is that in the superman outfit?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CT9vc6mW4AE6vLu.jpg:large
I know the FIFA rankings are a joke but Bosnia 20th?
https://vimeo.com/145924358
Great scenes
The kit man, not sure of his nameQuote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
Who is that in the superman outfit?
Kitman Dick Redmond
https://vine.co/v/iBVd1Ux290j
Forrest Gump ?Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
It was a clear penalty offense, the ball hit the outstretched left arm of the defender. If it had've hit his tucked in right arm then it wouldn't have been a penalty.
All thanks to the 4th official who was staring right at it.
This is our Heyday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoNJFvIXBW0
I completely agree. Most are focusing on the arm he had tucked to his tummy but it was the outstretched hand that caused the offence. The ref gave it without consulting the extra official and couldn't have seen the handball on the right arm/hand so it had to have been the other handball.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Looked like it hit his tucked in right arm to me, but it is not easy to see, however I think there was intend to handball perhaps, he didn't seem to complain much, but it was daft if intentional.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
From the angle I see it is not that clear, I like to see it side on.
I think it hit both hands/arms.
What a result. While there were a few hairy moments - inevitable when you choose to sit back - one of the best performances I've seen from Ireland this campaign. MON's had his issues, but he's clearly proven that he can change, and manage a team to success against those nominally better than them (not that Bosnia, who were dire for large stretches of the 180 minutes, are better. No way). Walters was immense, and the defence was fantastic. Should have been three nil with Long's fluffed chance, and Ireland would have been well worth it.
Would have been nice if the RTE Player and RTE Sport feed hadn't crashed with 10 minutes to go, but apparently nearly the entire RTE system went down tonight (that is, it wasn't just a bandwidth issue).
That was some match. Still high off of it. Terrific stuff and a lot of players can hold their heads high tonight. Roll on France! When is the draw?
December 12th is the draw.
Great result :) The team really delivered in this playoff against good opposition. Every play really gave it their all, and it was a great night for Irish football. Hopefully this not only leads to a good run in France, but also lists the profile of the game here once again and provides a springboard for some of our player's careers.
I think Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane have shown a lot of patience and understanding with this team, and they've built things up over time in the face of an at-time snarky media and impatient fanbase. That hard work paid off tonight with a really solid performance, and players like McCarthy, Long, Coleman, Brady and Walters becoming reliable performers. Consider the fact that this has been a campaign of real transition too - with Keane no longer the player he was, they've managed that change very well. Without Dunne and with an aging O'Shea a lot of us thought we'd be in a mess defensively, but Clark and Keogh have both been blooded and performed very solidly. Hendrick and Hoolahan have done great too under their management.
I was critical of them myself at times, but that was shortsighted and they've proven me wrong. I'm very glad they did. Roll on Paris :)
There always seems to be one player who just stands out in a campaign and fr me it was Jin Walters. Again immense tonight.
I'll share the praise later for the rest for an outstanding professional performance. But Jonny, your some fella for one fella.