Rudy’s rocket as O’Neill heroes are swept aside
THERE was a time when the visit of Germany would have been the highlight of a Northern Ireland World Cup qualifying campaign. But things are different now and manager Michael O’Neill will be glad this defeat was not heavy enough to inflict major psychological damage ahead of an important trip to Norway on Sunday.
Guaranteed second spot in Group C before this game, the Northern Irish are not yet sure of a place in the play-offs. That will come if results go their way across Europe this weekend.
Nevertheless, this looked at one stage like being the worst possible preparation for that final game in Oslo.
O’Neill and his side have built a sound reputation over the last three years or so. On the back of their efforts at Euro 2016, they have progressed resolutely through this group and, before this match, had not conceded a goal in more than eight and a half hours. But one bad night can undo an awful lot of good work and the home team were staring down the barrel with a quarter of this match played.
Facing Germany, who have never lost an away World Cup qualifier, this was always going to be a hard task for a side hewn from the depths of the English football ladder. But O’Neill could not have imagined things would start so badly, the visitors scoring within two minutes, then hitting a post, before doubling their lead before we had played 21 minutes.
Ireland had not even enjoyed any controlled possession by the time a cross was cleared to the feet of Sebastian Rudy and the Bayern Munich midfielder lashed it into the top-right corner from 30 yards with his right foot.
When international football has come so easily for so long, confidence is a given. Even so, this was impressive stuff from Germany as they refused to allow Northern Ireland any ball.
The Northern Irish started with a back five as they tried to keep the game tight, but that plan fell apart as Germany found ways around the edges of O’Neill’s formation and indeed through the middle.
O’Neill’s men were almost 2-0 down in the sixth minute, but their excellent goalkeeper Michael McGovern saved well from Julian Draxler, before Hoffenheim forward Sandro Wagner dived full length to head another right-wing centre across goal and against the far post.
With little more than 17 minutes gone, Ireland were hanging on and things got worse moments later when Wagner took possession on the edge of the area and turned to spank a left-foot shot past McGovern and into the goalkeeper’s right-hand corner.
Briefly there were jeers from the home crowd. They are not accustomed to seeing their team outplayed on O’Neill’s recent watch. Happily, they soon settled and Northern Ireland could have gained an unlikely foothold just before half-time, only for Corry Evans to show insufficient composure when the ball reached him at the far post.
As the game wore on, Germany’s football became more functional, dropping from its exalted early level. There were still moments of danger from a team who looked as though they could move up a gear at will and McGovern saved brilliantly from a Thomas Muller header early in the second half.
O’Neill switched to a back four as Northern Ireland chased the game and that said much for
their modern ambitions. Damage limitation did not seem to be on their minds.
Eventually a chance did come. Substitute Conor Washington showed sound technique to jink past a defender in the area with 14 minutes to go, but he could not keep his shot down, the ball glancing the crossbar on its way over.
That was essentially the moment of the night for Ireland. A goal then would have given them impetus, no matter how unlikely it had previously seemed.
As it happened there were two late goals, a far-post volley by Germany’s Joshua Kimmich and a header from a corner by Josh Magennis that served as the final act of the evening.
So, Ireland head to Norway with an unbeaten run consigned to history but self-respect intact. ‘We were up against it after that start but 3-0 would have been harsh,’ said O’Neill.
On the balance of play, in truth, it would not have been. NORTHERN IRELAND (5-4-1): McGOVERN 8.5; Hodson 6 (Dallas 45min, 6), Evans 6.5 (Saville 80), McAuley 6.5, McLaughlin 6, Brunt 6; Magennis 6, C Evans 6.5, Davis 6, Norwood 6; Lafferty 5.5 (Washington 68).
Subs not used: Carroll, Mannus, Ferguson, McGinn, Paton, Flanagan, Morris, Jones, Lund. Scorer: Magennis 90. Booked: None. Manager: Michael O’Neill 6. GERMANY (4-2-3-1): Ter Stegen 6; Kimmich 6, Boateng 7, Hummels 7, Plattenhardt 6; Rudy 7, Kroos 8; Draxler 7.5 (Sane 71, 6), Muller 7.5 (Stindl 83), Goretzka 7 (Can 66, 6); Wagner 8. Subs not used: Trapp, Mustafi, Ginter, Sule, Leno, Younes, Rudiger, Brandt. Scorers: Rudy 2, Wagner 21, Kimmich 86. Booked: None. Manager: Joachim Low 8. Referee: Danny Makkelie (Holland) 6. Attendance: 18,104. @Ian_Ladyman_DM