Mcclean has a pop at critics
JAMES MCCLEAN has been riled by critics of Ireland’s dire performance against Denmark, claiming they are ‘bang out of order’.
But he insists the Boys in Green will pick themselves up off the floor and bounce back even stronger.
The Republic of Ireland star was close to tears when interviewed on TV immediately after Tuesday’s clueless 5-1 defeat that crushed World Cup hopes.
Mcclean said he was ‘devastated’ and that the players had “shot themselves” and “let ourselves down”.
But despite an abject team performance after blowing a valuable lead, the Derryman came out swinging yesterday.
On social media, he wrote: “(Tuesday) night is going to hurt deep for a long long time, nothing can change or make what happened last night right.
“Of course everyone is entitled to voice their opinion because it was simply not good enough from us on the night, we know that ourselves.
“But to stick the boot in and kick players and staff when they are down (players and staff who have been great servants to this country; players and staff that have qualified for a major tournament and was unlucky to be knocked out to a great team in the last 16; players and staff one game from making it to a World Cup; players and staff that would give anything for this great country) with some over the top, beyond football comments is bang out of order.
“Hurting or not - and trust me when I say this, we hurt every bit as much as you - I’m proud and honoured to be an Irish man.”
Mcclean added: “Like I said, this will hurt deep (but) we’ve been written of so many times before and just like before we will bounce back.”