Daily Express

Irish pay Colau i Theresa May

- Richard TANNER

IN THE end, it all came down to that penalty.

Heartbreak­ingly for Northern Ireland, their World Cup dream is over – but they went out with all guns blazing on a dramatic evening at a rain-soaked St Jakob-Park – while cursing Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan.

Switzerlan­d boasted before the game that Hategan’s controvers­ial decision to award a penalty for Corry Evans’ handball in the first leg last Thursday would not matter because they would make their superiorit­y tell in the second leg.

But they did not count on the remarkable spirit Michael O’Neill’s squad have shown time and time again in recent years.

And after 180 minutes of a pulsating play-off the gutwrenchi­ng fact for the Irish was that the much-debated spotkick was all that separated the teams as Switzerlan­d claimed the ticket for the finals in Russia next summer.

Ricardo Rodriguez turned out to be the Swiss hero and Irish heart-breaker.

Not only did the AC Milan left-back keep his nerve to convert the spot-kick in Belfast, he was also the right man in the right place yesterday when he cleared Jonny Evans’ header off the line in added time as the Irish threw everything forward in a bid to take it to extra time. The Swiss stumbled over the line and into their fourth successive World Cup – but they knew they had been given an almighty scrap.

When the dust settles, the speculatio­n will intensify about the future of O’Neill, whose transforma­tion of Northern Ireland’s fortunes over the past few years means he has been linked with the vacant Scotland job but may well fancy trying his luck in club football.

He has certainly earned it by taking a squad of such limited resources to the last 16 of the Euros in France last year and now to the very brink of what would have been the province’s first World Cup finals since 1986.

For some of the players too it was their last chance to reach a World Cup. Aaron Hughes, who set a home nations record for a defender by winning his 109th cap here, Gareth McAuley and

Chris Brunt could now call time on their internatio­nal careers. But if it proves to be a case of all change for the Irish, those who bow out can do so with their heads held high.

The Irish made a nonsense of all the pre-game talk about making a cautious start by showing more attacking threat in the first 10 minutes than they did in the entire first leg.

Brunt had a trademark blockbuste­r tipped over by Yann Sommer while Stuart Dallas also went close.

The Irish responded to O’Neill’s positive team selection and demand to press their opponents higher up the pitch and improve their ball retention with a much better display than at Windsor Park.

But only the goalkeepin­g heroics of Michael McGovern and some more poor finishing from the Swiss kept them ensured they were not dead and buried by the break. McGovern saved well from Xherdan Shaqiri and Steven Zuber while the Irish were hugely relieved that Haris Seferovic continued his first-leg nightmare by fluffing three first-half chances – two with his head and one with his left foot.

As the pitch cut up in the pouring rain, the Swiss continued to miss chances to give the Irish hope.

They thought they had got the goal they needed when Conor Washington headed just wide after a quick break.

George Saville scooped a shot straight at Sommer as the Swiss grew increasing­ly worried their big party was going to fall flat.

Those nerves were close to breaking point when O’Neill sent defensive giant McAuley up front alongside substitute Josh Magennis for the last few minutes as the Irish went direct.

The hapless Seferovic could have sealed it for the Swiss but scooped a simple chance over the bar, much to the fury of the home fans and coach Vladimir Petkovic who promptly hauled him off.

Seferovic gestured angrily at the fans as he came off but the Swiss were celebratin­g at the final whistle while the Irish players sank to their knees.

But whatever the future holds for O’Neill’s men they can be proud of their efforts.

One thing you can be sure of – a certain Romanian referee will not be on their Christmas card list.

 ??  ?? LINE DANCE: Rodriguez clears Evans’ goalbound header in stoppage time to stun the Irish, who, inset right, gave it their all
LINE DANCE: Rodriguez clears Evans’ goalbound header in stoppage time to stun the Irish, who, inset right, gave it their all
 ?? Pictures: NICK POTTS, JASON CAIRNDUFF and ARND WIEGMANN ?? IT’S ALL OVER: Dejection for skipper Steven Davis and Jamie Ward OH NO! Irish boss Michael O’Neill can only suffer
Pictures: NICK POTTS, JASON CAIRNDUFF and ARND WIEGMANN IT’S ALL OVER: Dejection for skipper Steven Davis and Jamie Ward OH NO! Irish boss Michael O’Neill can only suffer

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