Republic of Ireland V Germany - Thursday, 8th October 2015 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

[osarusan]

their bad finishing isn't our good luck. its simply bad finishing

It is our good luck I'd say.

It isn't their bad luck though.

[shakermaker1982]

I wouldn't start Whelan.

McCarthy looked a million times better without him.

[Yard of Pace]

He didn't so much come in and steady the ship, but salvaged its remains from the depths of the ocean and got it sailing again. There were frustrations aplenty and his limitations and stubbornness was brutally exposed as time wore on and, without doubt, stayed a campaign too long, but let's not delude ourselves into thinking it was all bad.

He got it sailing again but I think his belittling of his own players was just absolutely unforgivable, his distrust of Wes in particular, and it'll be a long oul time before I'll let go of my grudge against him. He really set a negative tone around this team which I hope last night will finally banish.

[tetsujin1979]

Got back late after the game last night, only starting to compose my thoughts now.

A team containing West Ham's second choice keeper, three championship defenders (including Burnley's second choice full back), and a striker who hasn't scored this season for his club and never for his country, beat the world champions.

The defence was organised superbly by O'Shea. Keogh was likewise immense. Christie was better going forward in the first half, but settled well in the second.
McCarthy came of age last night, anyone who think he's not an international class footballer should be forced to watch him on player cam last night, and then beaten soundly about the face and neck. Hendrick worked his socks off, didn't see much of the ball, but neither did anyone else.

I'd follow Jon Walters to the gates of hell after his performance last night. The German left full and left winger couldn't contain him in the last few minutes, and he fought for every inch they wouldn't give him.

Having said that, Hoolahan was MOTM for me. One of the most complete performances from an attacking central midfielder that I've ever seen - club or country. If there's any downside it's that he ran himself into the ground and I'm not sure he'll be able to reproduce that again on Sunday.

When I saw Murphy in the starting XI, I thought it was a mistake, but he might give their defence something to think about, and allow Long to take advantage as a fresh substitute.

Even when Long was breaking through, I was thinking "I've seen him with this chance before" but this time he did what he normally doesn't, didn't think about it, took one touch to give himself an extra yard and smashed it beyond the best keeper in the world. After that goal, I'm certain he can solve world hunger, clone dinosaurs and resolve the Syrian conflict.

Can't decide if it was better than Holland in 2001, and I'm not sure I want to pick between the two. They're both wonderful, wonderful sporting memories, and that's enough.

We took four points off Germany over the course of the campaign, but only one off Scotland. We conceded one goal to Germany, but two to Scotland. Football is a glorious, unpredictable, terrible, wonderful creature.

[jbyrne]

It is our good luck I'd say.

It isn't their bad luck though.

I think emmet Malone words it better than I ever could...

The similarities with 2001 didn’t end with the scoreline but there was none of the luck. Sure, the Germans will rue the poor finishing that marred their efforts at key moments in both halves but there was no sense of injustice about this. Ireland battled at the back as they have always done on their best days and Long, in that one sweet moment, ensured that they took their one outstanding chance when it finally came..

[SwanVsDalton]

An unashamed one in the pipe for those still under the delusion Robbie's only in it for his own caps and goals.

[pineapple stu]

Can't decide if it was better than Holland in 2001, and I'm not sure I want to pick between the two. They're both wonderful, wonderful sporting memories, and that's enough.

Was talking about this last night.

The only thing that elevates the Holland goal for me is that it more or less secured qualification (if we beat a poor Cyprus team at home) At best, we're now still favourites for the play-offs now, which would have been the case had Long missed and the game ended 0-0.

But I agree the comparison is facile anyway. Long's goal deserves to be up there with Houghton and Whelan in 88, Sheedy in 90, Houghton in 94, McAteer in 01, Keane in 02, even O'Shea last year. Maybe Keane in Paris, though that was eventually overshadowed, or Keane in Bari.

With the rugby world cup on now, I think it's worth noting that a match like last night's would never, ever, ever result in an upset in rugby. The better team would simply power through. But football is nowhere near as clear-cut, and nights like last night will happen again, which is one of the great things about the game.

[Yard of Pace]

That's a brilliant photo. He's such a legend. And I mean that in it's proper context, not the term that's bandied about the place willy nilly.... :-)

Weren't we discussing here very recently whether we actually enjoy going to the games, after someone posed the question? I answered in the affirmative anyway, and last night, well, that's your reward for keeping the faith. I'm still high as a kite today.

[Stuttgart88]

In reference to a point a few pages back, I have to admit I was glad when I heard Poland had drawn level. It just relieved the agony of the next few minutes, after so many last second equalisers scorched into my pessimistic head. That said, when Muller missed that chance I thought the gods were looking kindly on us. I watched in amazement as the ball sailed into the south terrace instead of bulging the net as I had expected. There was another earlier chance, a header inches wide. I was directly in line with the flight of the ball and was fully expecting it to go in off the inside of the post. Magic stuff.

[zero]

In reference to a point a few pages back, I have to admit I was glad when I heard Poland had drawn level. It just relieved the agony of the next few minutes, after so many last second equalisers scorched into my pessimistic head. That said, when Muller missed that chance I thought the gods were looking kindly on us. I watched in amazement as the ball sailed into the south terrace instead of bulging the net as I had expected. There was another earlier chance, a header inches wide. I was directly in line with the flight of the ball and was fully expecting it to go in off the inside of the post. Magic stuff.

yeah i felt the same. i could relax a bit knowing a playoff was secured. those last few minutes were tough enough nevertheless!

[jinxy lilywhite]

Was talking about this last night.

The only thing that elevates the Holland goal for me is that it more or less secured qualification (if we beat a poor Cyprus team at home) At best, we're now still favourites for the play-offs now, which would have been the case had Long missed and the game ended 0-0.

But I agree the comparison is facile anyway. Long's goal deserves to be up there with Houghton and Whelan in 88, Sheedy in 90, Houghton in 94, McAteer in 01, Keane in 02, even O'Shea last year. Maybe Keane in Paris, though that was eventually overshadowed, or Keane in Bari.

With the rugby world cup on now, I think it's worth noting that a match like last night's would never, ever, ever result in an upset in rugby. The better team would simply power through. But football is nowhere near as clear-cut, and nights like last night will happen again, which is one of the great things about the game.

on your last point that is the beauty with football. You have to put the ball in the back of the onion bag. In rugby if you cant score a try then your out half can start finding a hole to score a drop goal or kick penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking over. same for Gaa if you cant get a goal then pop it over the bar for a point.

Great performance last night. All of the lads. yeah the football wasn't pretty at times but when we had the ball on the deck we looked comfortable. Maybe the germans underestimated us but who cares. All you need is 1 one chance and we took it.

also the other game ending 2-2 I think it will suit us. if we want to automatically qualify then we need to win or better a 1-1 draw. It is also a free shot. it doesn't matter if we lose as we are still in the playoffs(maybe seeding for the playoff maybe effective).

[NeverFeltBetter]

I like the idea that Ireland's game against Poland is basically a play-off to get to France, but whoever loses out gets a do over.

[nigel-harps1954]

Rob Eliot drafted into the squad to replace Given.

I can't find any information online of Westwood being injured. What's the story there?

[pineapple stu]

So was that Given's last competitive career game I wonder?

[back of the net]

So I had a dream we beat the World Champions in a vital qualifier last night with a perfomance of Guts, Passion and intelligence in an amazing night at Lansdowne Road..

[Philly]

Rob Eliot drafted into the squad to replace Given.

I can't find any information online of Westwood being injured. What's the story there?

It's odd. Westwood has struggled a bit with injuries this season, but seems to have been okay the last couple of weeks. He could well be injured - but no journalist seems to have asked if he is in the various interviews so far.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Blog on last nights epic win for anyone interested.

http://afalsefirstxi.blogspot.ie/201...aying-long-gam

[DeLorean]

Joe Denilson already clarified this here-

[DannyInvincible]

An unashamed one in the pipe for those still under the delusion Robbie's only in it for his own caps and goals.

That's brilliant. Great photo. I might tweet that, if you don't mind (I'll h/t you), as Robbie-slagging is really something that gets my goat. He's an Irish footballing legend. And, as Yard of Pace says, in the true meaning of the term. It's a word I usually tend to avoid using when referring to people but I'll make an exception for Robbie. He has brought the nation so much joy over the years and he shows he's also able to celebrate with a direct competitor when he's not at the centre of it. Yet people insist "it's all about himself" or throwing his toys out of the pram when things don't go his way for Robbie; nonsense. He's delighted for Long there.

In reference to a point a few pages back, I have to admit I was glad when I heard Poland had drawn level. It just relieved the agony of the next few minutes, after so many last second equalisers scorched into my pessimistic head. That said, when Muller missed that chance I thought the gods were looking kindly on us. I watched in amazement as the ball sailed into the south terrace instead of bulging the net as I had expected. There was another earlier chance, a header inches wide. I was directly in line with the flight of the ball and was fully expecting it to go in off the inside of the post. Magic stuff.

Fair point. I suppose it's easy to curse the Polish equaliser in hindsight. Although after Mueller's shot went wide, I did begin to believe it was to be our night. We played down the clock so well also that the last few minutes were a bit easier to endure than some other encounters down through the years. I just didn't get the sense that Germany were going to get a goal in the dying moments, which is why the Polish goal peeved me at the time.

Last November, I vividly recall standing dejected in Celtic Park after the final whistle with ecstatic Scottish supporters streaming out of the stadium around me and really thinking there was no way back from losing up there - even a play-off place looked a distant hope then - but now we're going to Warsaw and can secure automatic qualification with any result better than a 1-1 draw. What a turn-around.

Westwood has an injury issue, as far as I understand. O'Neill was asked about it the other day.

Just also wanted to mention that Hendrick has been a real star of O'Neill's tenure.

Why was Keogh wearing the bandage round his head for the first-half but not the second, by the way? Just adding to the old "lunatic hell-bent on destruction" look?

[OwlsFan]

Nice to see a goal from "caveman football". There's more than one way to skin a cat. I haven't decided whether it was a masterful stroke to bring Long on late to replace the ineffective Murphy or whether he should start with him. The goal would seem to indicate the former. While I don't deny all the plaudits for Hoolahan, some are over the top as he did give the ball away twice in a dangerous position from which the Germans almost scored twice. On another day... Man of the match: Keogh/O'Shea followed by Hoolahan and McCarthy

The Dutch comparison is very true. Which was better? I bought Champagne all round after the Dutch game. I didn't last night. I think I enjoyed the Dutch the more because we were down to 10 men and we owed the Dutch big time after some terrible disappointments. Last night was a bigger surprise because we had no Roy Keane in the side and was against the Weltmeisters.

Days like that don't come around that often. Enjoy. Is it too much to hope for back to back victories and put that away hoodoo to bed? Probably but as ever the Poles only need a draw and that is a hard one for them: to stick or twist. Ask France when they only needed a draw against us.