Ireland V Bosnia-Herzegovina - Monday, 16th November 2015 Euro 2016 Play Off 2nd Leg

[jbyrne]

Couldn't believe when I saw people saying it was a dodgy penalty after the game. From where we were (and I think it was a similar angle to the ref) it looked like he blatantly stuck out his left hand to block the ball, I was on my feet screaming for it instantly. Funny looking at it now and it looks like he never touched it with his left hand at all.

maybe the TV view doesn't do the claim justice. have to say my mate said pen straight away from the east upper stand

[OwlsFan]

Thankfully the 'be careful what you wish for' statements from some punters and the media when some of us wanted Trap gone proved to be utter ********.

We beat Germany and got a draw away from home against the WORLD CHAMPIONS.

Beat Bosnia (another ranked team above us) at home

We can score goals without Robbie.

We make subs that change games.

We actually look good defensively

The fans are starting to believe in the team again.

RIP 4-4-2

We also lost to Scotland away and could only draw at home. We also lost to Poland away and could only draw at home so stats can be used to back up any argument.

However, as Maggie Thatcher would say "Rejoice!!" and that is what I will do. The defensive shape was tremendous with each player knowing exactly what to do. It was a joy to watch although we almost had the exact same sucker punch on Brady/McLean on the left and the winger got to the byline and crossed but this time a body got in the way.

Roll on December 12 although as 4th seed (we are, aren't we) it could be another horrendous draw. Anyone got any idea of the seedings to see who we could be with?

[OwlsFan]

maybe the TV view doesn't do the claim justice. have to say my mate said pen straight away from the east upper stand

Not from behind the goal it doesn't but the side on view shows the nudge. Such a shame he didn't score as I could have relaxed

[pineapple stu]

From the TV angle, the cross does take a bit of a deflection, and easy to say it's off his hand (which is it) - and so handball and penalty.

But from close up, the cross comes in from two yards away, the guy has his right arm in against his chest, and his left arm is just out for balance - and even then it's behind him and not really blocking the cross. And it does seem it hits his right arm, not his left. There's no case at all of hand to ball, and from that close, it's hard to see how he could have gotten out of the way of the cross.

So yeah, while you can see how you'd call for a penalty because of the nick the ball takes, it has to go down as accidental surely.

But all moot of course - we won, were the better team overall (seems even the Bosnian papers are saying that this morning) and Spahic should have walked, which helps balance it up a tiny bit.

[Real ale Madrid]

What a great free kick last night by Brady for Walters' 2nd goal - we put in so few decent set pieces during the qualifying campaign ( did we get 3 goals in total from corners / free kicks - Gib aside? ) that it really killed our momentum at times. The home game v Poland was particularly bad. If we could improve that aspect of our game then we would rattle a few teams in the summer.

[Stuttgart88]

Was abroad and couldn't make it to the match but the support in the stadium was excellent and I've noted that my own mates (lads in their mid-20's) have become enthusiastic and excited about supporting the Ireland team for the first time in a while. Hats off to both the management and the players for that. I've seen us grow in spirit and style over the course of this tournament. We've nicked a win from the World Champions in fairly lucky circumstances and then dominated the side ranked 20th in the world over two legs in a really clinical pair of performances.

I think the public like the team's spirit, work rate and commitment. There's a connection again after the Stephen Ireland and Trap years of suspicion wrt injuries.

People warm to the genuine enthusiasm of people like Keogh. I think people are prepared to overlook the lack of real talent, yet there's a feeling that Brady, Hendrick, Long and Coleman have real quality. The Irish love a battler like Walters. Blink and you'll have missed it, but the current regulars were on the fringes in game one.

Of course, the Irish public like winners more than anything else though. But still, the public affection for the team is returning.

[Yard of Pace]

Of course, the Irish public like winners more than anything else though. But still, the public affection for the team is returning.

Big time. Because they wrote them off and the players effin' went and showed them what they're all about. I've had a great time today sewing it into the fellas in work who were predicting we'd do well to get out of Zenica with a 2-0 loss.

Not this team, lads.

[jbyrne]

Playground style, they started it but I didn't like our response.

A few Bosnians were shouting during it - when I say shouting, there was maybe half-a-dozen shouts a few seconds apart each. You'd probably guess it was five Bosnians doing it (no more). Some Irish fans began shouting things like 'be quiet!' etc and anger grew from there, crescendoing in a flat chorus of boos coming from our end.

Personally, I wasn't too happy with their being any response at all. The booing came across as crass, if not worse, because it was so forceful against what was at most a few knuckledraggers. Understandable given the emotions surrounding the silence, but still.

The Bosnian fans are likely to get a lot of grief over what was a tiny minority, they showed a decent bit of class at the end by applauding our players as they went past in the lap of honour.

I can understand the response from some of our supporters tbh. the minutes silence was being held in our stadium and those watching around the world wouldn't be aware that it was some bosnians doing the shouting rather than us. maybe the more appropriate response was when the crowd burst into applause near the end to drown out the shouting. wouldn't be critical of our supporters at all in this instance

[Yard of Pace]

Of course, the Irish public like winners more than anything else though. .

Which makes the popularity of the rugger lads all the more baffling considering they can't progress past the last 8 of a tournament in a sport that only 8 countries in the world take seriously. I think this year they came 7th or something....odd

[NeverFeltBetter]

But they've been winning/challenging for the Six Nations though. The Irish public get a yearly taste of going for a major international rugby tournament, and only a four yearly reminder of Ireland's subordinate place to the southern hemisphere.

[backstothewall]

I can understand the response from some of our supporters tbh. the minutes silence was being held in our stadium and those watching around the world wouldn't be aware that it was some bosnians doing the shouting rather than us. maybe the more appropriate response was when the crowd burst into applause near the end to drown out the shouting. wouldn't be critical of our supporters at all in this instance

I don't think anyone was expecting there to be any bother at all. It took me by surprise.

Though I think it played into our hands a bit. My reaction was that these boys are a pack of c**ts. It got my back up and I don't think i was alone. I felt that was reflected in the atmosphere, especially early on.

[Candystripe]

I thought it was a stone wall penalty. I was in the lower south behind the net. Seeing it since on TV it looks really harsh, but almost everyone to a man beside me shouted for it so maybe that swung the ref's decision.

Have to say that the atmosphere was electric for the whole game.

[SwanVsDalton]

I can understand the response from some of our supporters tbh. the minutes silence was being held in our stadium and those watching around the world wouldn't be aware that it was some bosnians doing the shouting rather than us. maybe the more appropriate response was when the crowd burst into applause near the end to drown out the shouting. wouldn't be critical of our supporters at all in this instance

Yeah, like I said, it was understandable but if we're worried about what people round the world think then I'm not sure a couple of hundred fans booing during the silence is helpful. As you say, the applause was the better move.

I don't think anyone was expecting there to be any bother at all. It took me by surprise.

Though I think it played into our hands a bit. My reaction was that these boys are a pack of c**ts. It got my back up and I don't think i was alone. I felt that was reflected in the atmosphere, especially early on.

The atmosphere was certainly spicy - at the time, I did think it felt like an opportunity for the home fans to batten down the hatches.

[Yard of Pace]

But they've been winning/challenging for the Six Nations though. .

Let me have my fun

[DannyInvincible]

Glasgow was a year and three days ago today. Even reaching the play-offs looked a distant pipe-dream that night. But we've made it. Amazing. I'm ecstatic.

McGeady's last-minute goal in Georgia, O'Shea's last-minute goal in Gelsenkirchen, Long's last-minute goal at home to Poland; all so important and all so indicative of this team's fantastic commitment and heart. And then we beat the reigning world champions along the way. I'm delighted that that result has now been consummated by qualification. All inspiring stuff, and it's drawn the public back.

Nice to see us occupy all three sports news headline slots again too on the RTÉ site:



After the disappointing loss away to Poland in the final group game, I didn't fancy our chances in the play-offs at all, yet we've come through against the highest-ranked seed. We made them look very poor. Comprehensive, professional, heroic, magic. My nerves were wrecked, but what a result. Great performances all round. Glenn Whelan worked his socks off last night; gave his all. Randolph has come in and looked like he's had the number one jersey for years. Clark and Keogh were absolutely rock solid. Great effort from Seamie Coleman too. Delighted for Hoolahan; at the age of 34, he'll finally get that well-deserved chance to show off his abilities on the big stage. Let's hope he stays injury-free, but what energy for a 33-year-old. Brady was a class-act and Walters was simply a beast. Great campaign for him and he'll rightly go down as a hero now.

Fair play to O'Neill; he really deserves credit. Proved the doubters wrong and has demonstrated he's able to instil belief and discipline whilst also knowing when to make changes and, importantly, which changes to make. There's a buzz about the team and they play like they're not under any shackles. It's been a thoroughly nerve-wracking but ultimately enjoyable and rewarding ride. The team are fighters and people respond to that. Can't wait for the finals.

I don't think anyone was expecting there to be any bother at all. It took me by surprise.

Though I think it played into our hands a bit. My reaction was that these boys are a pack of c**ts. It got my back up and I don't think i was alone. I felt that was reflected in the atmosphere, especially early on.

I heard it was a handful of Bosnian fans attempting to draw attention to Europe's perceived ignorance of Palestine. Another source claimed they shouted "Allahu akbar", although I don't think that is as likely, even if Bosnia's largest religion is Islam.

I saw a few GAA/rugby fans on Twitter lording it over "the football/soccer crowd", saying it's typical of what you'd expect or that you'd never get that at their codes.; smug and ill-informed nonsense it was, especially considering it wasn't even our fans who disrespected the moment.

[DannyInvincible]

I was watching on Sky last night so wasn't able to see this post-match footage on RTÉ: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/...for-euro-2016/

Some great scenes of celebration there in an 18-minute-long video (which also includes the panel's emotional reaction) for anyone who missed it.

[OwlsFan]

I saw a few GAA/rugby fans on Twitter lording it over "the football/soccer crowd", saying it's typical of what you'd expect or that you'd never get that at their codes.; smug and ill-informed nonsense it was, especially considering it wasn't even our fans who disrespected the moment.

I know a guy in the premium seats who asked me what the booing was about !! I heard the shouts from the other end so not sure how he missed it. Perhaps having the G&Ts made him miss the shouts. It's not something I'd worry about or the views of our rugby/GAA supporters. Certainly doesn't distract one iota from one of the greatest nights in Irish football.

[tetsujin1979]

I saw a few GAA/rugby fans on Twitter lording it over "the football/soccer crowd", saying it's typical of what you'd expect or that you'd never get that at their codes.; smug and ill-informed nonsense it was, especially considering it wasn't even our fans who disrespected the moment.

I can't say I've ever been present for a minute's silence/applause at a rugby game, and precious few at a GAA game. But that's a discussion for another day.

[CraftyToePoke]

Roll on December 12 although as 4th seed (we are, aren't we) it could be another horrendous draw. Anyone got any idea of the seedings to see who we could be with?

All here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34844461

[elroy]

Ah c'mere lads - wasn't that just really, really great?

What a surreal qualifying campaign - three late goals, Shaun Maloney being a pox, Shay's comeback and Randy Randolph's emergence, McGeady's Georgian magic to warming the bench, Robbie dropped, Wessi and Hendrix in the middle, three different left backs, four different formations, Cyrus the Virus playing and scoring, Daryl Murphy leading the line, deflected goals, dodgy penos, kicking off in Glasgow to kicking up in the Aviva, drawing with the world champs, beating the world champs, winning a play-off against a decent side...

It's been a stupid year, a brilliant year. Stupidly brilliant. We wound our way from terrible to fantastic and all parts in between, but the thing that stayed consistent was the belief coursing through those players.

It's been far from perfect, but we qualified and our performances under pressure in the last three months have been outstanding. O'Neill and Keane really deserve a whole lot of credit for exerting a calm influence and coaxing some superbly cohesive, composed performances on what has been a stormy, thoroughly rambunctious qualifying campaign.

I thought we were excellent tonight, and fully deserved to go through. First 15 we tore into them, and the Bosnians barely knew what was going on. They were losing their heads well before the peno (maybe they thought they'd try and out-aggro us, but had they not seen Jon Walters?). Penalty did look soft from where I was sitting, but haven't seen a replay.

Players were superb, pretty much to a man. Standouts for me were Clark, Brady, Whelan, McCarthy and that absolute hunk Walters. Keogh was super, Clark was just a beast. Man possesssed. Whelan did so much donkey work and top marks for harrying the Bosnians and calming everyone around. Brady kept going despite a few bad set-pieces and his best defensive performance by a mile.

Walters is our best player. Has been for the last year. Not just one of our most effective and committed, but also genuinely skillful, intelligent and influential.

Au lait, au lait, au lait lads. Nights like these are why it's all worth it.

Great post. Saved me writing it all. It's been a campaign that in hindsight has progressed nicely. Slow progress but progress and isn't it great to have Irish football the toast of the nation again. It's the country's real love!!

Hope the FAI get a dvd out for Christmas. While it was at times a testing campaign, how about this for a list of special memories:

1: mcgeady winner against Georgia
2: JOSH equaliser in Germany
3: long equaliser against Poland
4: long winner against Germany
5: Brady emerging from the fog celebrating in Bosnia
6:Walters second last night and the remaining minutes after.

One disappointment was the tally of 2 points from 12 against Poland and scots.