Portugal V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 1st Sep 2021 - 2022 World Cup Qualifier

[paul_oshea]

Until we start seeing Ireland actually perform in a game playing a different style we can't complain. We're a long way from that yet, if we ever get there.

[DeLorean]

Until we start seeing Ireland actually perform in a game playing a different style we can't complain. We're a long way from that yet, if we ever get there.

I think it's fair enough to complain about being labelled '"British", regardless.

[paul_oshea]

I think we've spoken about this before was this translated as British style or British team, it's fair game really. Id imagine most countries know the Republic of Ireland is a sovereign state.

[CraftyToePoke]

He will know this, yes, but it shows also they are that confident about tomorrow they are happy call us the one thing we really don't like being called possibly.

And they will get some hop when we total football them off the field tomorrow in a very non British style.

[Stuttgart88]

What is British style these days anyway? More advanced than us I'd say.

[ontheotherhand]

Playing 9 defenders and hoping Harry Kane can bundle one in with his hoop?

[John83]

Playing 9 defenders and hoping Harry Kane can bundle one in with his hoop?

That's very reductionist. You've completely ignored the penalty-seeking nature of their attack. It might be **** to watch, and occasionally rise above borderline cheating to non-borderline cheating, but let's not let our hatred of the British blind us to the nature of their current team.

Lucky *******s: their fifth choice right back would arguably be our best player these days. Style is not nothing, but it's completely subservient to quality of players.

[Trequartista20]

All things considered, saying suggesting we played with a 'British' style of play would be a very great and undeserved compliment.

[Trequartista20]

All things considered, suggesting we played with a 'British' style of play would be a very great and undeserved compliment.

[ontheotherhand]

That's very reductionist. You've completely ignored the penalty-seeking nature of their attack. It might be **** to watch, and occasionally rise above borderline cheating to non-borderline cheating, but let's not let our hatred of the British blind us to the nature of their current team.

Lucky *******s: their fifth choice right back would arguably be our best player these days. Style is not nothing, but it's completely subservient to quality of players.

You're right, I'd forgotten about Sterling. That two pronged attack in front of 8 defenders thankfully only got them so far but I actually think Southgate was brave to try something new and not cave in to the hype around a lot of their attacking players. Maybe it's how we should line up given we only seem to have keepers and defenders of any quality available.

[pineapple stu]

So...what are we looking at this evening?

Pros
Portugal flattered to deceive a bit at the Euros, albeit with a very tough draw
Shane Duffy can play a bit again
Ronaldo is certain to start, and Portugal are slightly worse with him in the team these days
It's not entirely clear if the manager knows where Ireland is, and they may have scouted the wrong team

Cons
There'll presumably be a big home crowd and no away fans
Ronaldo wants the record
Portugal get to put out ten other players who are almost all world class
We are ****e

I think I'd be happy with damage limitation and a repeat of the 3-0 scoreline from Wembley last year (which really could have been more if England were bothered), and let Ronaldo get his record so we can share his place in the record books . I think this game is pretty much entirely separate from the other two (home to Azerbaijan/Serbia) unless we end up losing 7-0 and have a big crisis of confidence going into them, but touch wood that won't happen. (Though I can't quite go so far as to definitely say it won't!)

[paul_oshea]

At this stage no poor performance is acceptable, so you can't just discount this game and hope for better for the next two. The problem for us at the moment which is not in our control or any smaller younger squads is 3 days over 7 days or so. It's a huge ask especially with all the flying involved( although Serbia had it worse I think) even if this set of fixtures is lucky for us. You can't afford to focus on 2/3 games but yet if the third one is your most winnable ( which it isn't again in this round of fixtures) it adds even more pressure. If we're hockeyed by Portugal, come out with a draw against Azerbaijan it leaves us in a terrible state of mind heading into Serbia. I think dealing with this kind of mental and physical dilemna is going to be a big issue for us.

[EAFC_rdfl]

I thought it was reported that the crowd will be something like 8 or 9 thousand tonight

[paul_oshea]

Just undr 8 I believe, a 7 and I think a 9 and 5 somewhere in there!

[passinginterest]

Fairly sure it's 25% capacity and just under 8k but can't remember where I saw that. Maybe it's just the usual match day optimism, but I expect us to keep it tight and make it very awkward for Portugal. I don't think we'll concede more than 2 and if we nick one at the other end there's a chance we get away with a draw. Obvious concern is in midfield, really only Cullen playing regularly so far this season and whoever is selected will need to put in a massive shift. Hopefully if there's evidence that lads have run themselves into the ground after 55 minutes there's no hesitation in brining in fresh legs early. With three games in seven days, he's probably going to have to use all the midfielders in the squad at some stage anyway. Expecting some variation of 3-5-2 or more realistically it'll be closer to a 5-4-1 or 5-3-1-1. Wouldn't mind seeing Long given the job of leading the line from the start for his experience with Parrot dropping into the deeper role and helping the midfield.

[jbyrne]

if we mix it up a bit like we did against hungary then i think 2-0 at worst. we have to get in around them and basically annoy them at every turn.
if we fanny around with the ball with no purpose it will be a very long night. we have to get the ball into their half as quick as possible with purpose by playing up the wings rather than through the middle of the pitch.

[paul_oshea]

I think that's the first time we've ever had fanny about used on this forum but it couldn't be more pertinent to our performances of late! Agreed.

[Stuttgart88]

if we mix it up a bit like we did against hungary then i think 2-0 at worst. we have to get in around them and basically annoy them at every turn.
if we fanny around with the ball with no purpose it will be a very long night. we have to get the ball into their half as quick as possible with purpose by playing up the wings rather than through the middle of the pitch.

Yep I agree we have to be annoying them at every turn too.

Define purpose though. I'm no fan of short passes from the goalkeeper but if the objective of a passing game is to create space by committing the opposition press and beating it, then that's surely a purpose?

We all know that the notion of Ireland being allowed to go all tikka takka in Portugal is fantasy stuff, so the best we can hope for is to be able to mix it up. We’ll have to use our wits out there tonight but I’d still hope that always our instinct is to trust ourselves on the ball and not panic because you’re at risk of being tackled. Being careless, playing speculative passes and losing the ball quickly and cheaply will only play into Portugal’s hands. I reckon we’ll have more opportunity from wide areas too, but often getting the ball into a dangerous wide area by creating an overload comes from making progress through the middle. Germany found weakness in Portugal’s flanks but not by playing the ball up the touchline from fullback.

I’d be keen to see Horgan start. We’ll struggle to pass our way through Portugal’s lines so we could do with someone who can carry the ball.

[NeverFeltBetter]

A 2-0 loss wouldn't have me too dissapointed. Even 3-0 if we looked somewhat respectable. That's the limit of my ambitions. If we scored I'd be stunned.

[Diggs246]

Wow. Come on guys. We might and probably will get beaten. But dont ever ever be satisfied with a defeat.