O’SHEA ERA KICKS OFF IN STYLE
Revitalised Boys in Green secure a well-deserved draw with the world’s fourth-ranked side
AS Evan Ferguson’s penalty was blocked by Matz Sels, John O’Shea didn’t twitch a muscle, didn’t shake his head in dismay. He stayed impassive in the technical area before barking out a command, aware the ball was still in play.
Through his 27 years of service to Ireland, at all levels, O’Shea has learned to stay in the moment, and he couldn’t afford to switch off after Ferguson’s spot-kick mishap. The game was approaching the half-hour mark and the debriefings could wait. O’Shea didn’t flinch, despite the setback, and neither did his players.
This was a fine start for Ireland in 2024 after the six defeats in eight competitive games in 2023.
Their approach was more coherent, more direct at times too, as the team stood firm against opponents ranked fourth in the world.
One of the best Irish chances followed a long ball into the box while there was a noted absence of players tippy-tapping around at the back in possession. Instead, defenders played that bit further up the park.
If O’Shea was auditioning for the job, he would have done his chances no harm at all. Instead, he has to regroup for Switzerland on Tuesday before the hand-over.
On this encouraging evidence, the bones are in place for an Irish team to become competitive again, starting with the Nations League in September.
O’Shea knew there was no point in trying to re-invent the wheel but he still tweaked a cog or two.
He was content to delegate too, with assistant Paddy McCarthy and later Rene Gilmartin barking out instructions as Ireland defended Belgian corners.
If Andy Omobamidele’s recall was flagged with Shane Duffy and Liam Scales injured, the return of Robbie Brady at left wing-back was unexpected.
Brady, 32, was sighted infrequently during the reign of Stephen Kenny after 2020, not helped by injuries, in fairness.
Here, he was excellent, whipping in a couple of precise frees, one of which led to the Irish penalty, while he carried a threat in general play too.
O’Shea opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation, with debutant Sammie Szmodics and Chiedozie Ogbene playing behind Ferguson.
Szmodics was lively, quick on his feet into the tackle and to release a shot, as he seized his moment. At 28, he knew he had to. This was a most promising debut. Ogbene again illustrated his versatility, and his pace posed problems, especially in the second half.
The chill wind was a constant menace and it impacted on the flow of the game, disrupting Belgium that bit more than Ireland. Domenico Tedesco felt the game was ‘boring’, which was a bit harsh.
As the corner flags swirled it was a throwback to the days when visiting teams hated coming to Lansdowne Road.
Belgium were missing a cluster of A-listers but their starting XI was drawn from the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Eredivisie.
O’Shea’s hand was strong too as Ireland started with eight players from the Premier League, complemented by Brady, Szmodics and Will Smallbone.
In the conditions, pretty football wasn’t easy but Ireland adapted better and they had an ace up their sleeve with Brady’s deliveries.
A dream start beckoned in the third minute when Ferguson burgled Wout Faes off the ball and Szmodics smartly sent Ogbene clear in the inside left channel.
With Seamus Coleman up in support all Ogbene had to do was square the ball for the captain. Whether Ogbene saw Coleman or not, he elected to try and beat Sels at his near post. It was the wrong call. He also missed the target.
It was a let-off for Belgium, and an even bigger one followed just before the half-hour. The penalty award was debatable but the arm of Arthur Vermeeren was high when the ball came off his chest in the box and the Norwegian referee had no doubts. What followed was an opportunity lost.
Brady seized the ball which seemed natural as as he’s been on penalties before, and scored a crucial late winner against Armenia in the last Nations League.
But Ferguson, younger, and less experienced, was on spot-kicks, with O’Shea’s approval. Alas, after a short run-up, and a hint of a slip, Ferguson struck the ball at a poor height and too close to Sels. It was a first penalty blip for Ireland for ten years and continued Ferguson’s fallow run in front of goal.
To his, and the team’s credit, no one felt sorry for themselves. They moved on and continued to take the fight to the Belgians.
Within seconds of the restart, Brady crossed for Ferguson who headed over. Ogbene then bamboozled the Belgians with two marauding runs one of which led to a Szmodics snap shot that was blocked.
Towards the end, Belgium had one or two moments. Kelleher superbly parried a shot from Thomas Meunier and then appeared to clip Lois Openda in the box but the referee was unmoved. In any case, the flag was up for offside,
By the end, a full Moon peeped over the East Stand. In the Farmer’s Almanac, it’s known as a Worm Moon, a signal that earthworms are stirring as the ground thaws out. On this evidence, Ireland may be emerging from their tundra of toil.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Kelleher; Omobamidele, Collins, O’Shea; Coleman, Smallbone (Ebosele 86), Cullen, Brady (Doherty 81); Ogbene (Knight 70), Szmodics (Johnson70); Ferguson (Idah 70).
BELGIUM: Sels (Kaminski 83); Castagne (Batshuayi h/t), Faes, De Winter (Onana 64), Deman; Vranckx, Vermeeren, Tielemans (Meunier h/t); Trossard (Doku h/t), Openda, Bakayoko (Lukebakio 64). REFEREE: R Saggi (Norway)