Georgians in control as they ‘outplay’ the Irish
O’Neill’s men look out of sorts and devoid of answers in Tbilisi horror show
‘THERE WAS A MIDFIELD INCAPABLE OF PASSING THE BALL’
THIS was not the time for the Republic of Ireland’s worst performance of World Cup qualifying under Martin O’Neill.
On nights like this torrid one in Tbilisi, where Ireland mercifully escaped with a point, there will always be easy scapegoats and supposed saviours who were overlooked.
It is easy to point to the exclusion of Wes Hoolahan as the reason for such a turgid attempt at keeping the ball and using it wisely to dictate the tempo. Ireland’s problems are deeper rooted than that.
There will always be an honest endeavour and spirit about their play but at this level, at this point of qualifying and with a place at the World Cup on the line, that is just not enough. There needs to be more.
More composure, more awareness, more confidence in their ability as footballers. Last night there was none. There will be arguments in the days to come about the direction of Irish football and this Ireland team.
Last night it was clear: route one. And how utterly flawed that gameplan looked against a Georgia team who were technically superior and so frustratingly smarter than their beleaguered opponents.
‘We dominated the game, had control of the game, so the result is really disappointing. But we were the better side for sure, we had some chances and could have scored more goals,’ their captain, Guram Kashia, said.
‘We controlled the game and we are not used to doing that, a few players who are really important for us were missing but we did well without them, we outplayed them, from defence into midfield we had control of the ball, it was easy for us, so you have to give us come credit.’
The home side’s pizzazz did wane towards the end but the lowest ranked team in the group — 112th — looked a cut above for the majority. No one expects Ireland to be world beaters but nor do they anticipate watching such a hapless display on such a big stage and with so much at stake in Group D.
There can be no denying the obvious, worrying home truths from last night. Ireland did not look like a team worthy of making it to Russia. Even if the levels of wretchedness in this performance was a one-off, it cannot simply be brushed off as such.
Ireland under O’Neill have produced some magic moments and allround displays — Shane Long’s piledriver at home to Germany, a complete team effort dismantling Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Euro 2016 play-off, Robbie Brady’s historic header in Lille — but there was no sign of that here.
There was a brief resurgence towards the end of the second-half as Georgian legs tired but when Ireland did fashion an opening substitute Aiden McGeady blazed over the bar from close range. It summed everything up.
And with Serbia winning comfortably at home to Moldova there will be no time to feel sorry for themselves. Ireland have to dig deep when the table toppers come to Dublin on Tuesday.
Last night, Ireland had a defence which looked edgy any time they had anything to do other than smash the ball as far away from their goal as possible. A defender’s job may to be defend first but they also need to instil a confidence by being assured and measured.
There was a midfield which was incapable of passing the ball and looked punch drunk as the Georgians, inspired by the delightful Jano Ananidze, zig-zagged around them and picked passes for fun.
And Shane Long performed another one of his gruesome solo jobs up front, chasing lost causes and taking hits from behind when balls were fired in the air. When his chance did come to net his 18th international goal he could only muster a tame header over the bar in the 69th minute after a rare counter attack involving James McClean.
Perhaps the fact Ireland are so close to automatic qualification for the World Cup led the players to being paralysed by fear. It had all started so well with Shane Duffy’s fourth-minute goal but things turned sour quickly soon after and now Serbia will come to Dublin with Ireland needing a performance, and result, to redeem themselves.
‘Serbia are top of the group and they are a very good team with decent players,’ Kashia added. ‘I really hope that Ireland qualify, I am a big fan of your football but especially Conor McGregor, I try and copy his beard, I do the same exercises as him so I wish Ireland luck.’
Martin O’Neill’s side have answered tougher questions in the past and come out the other side.
Now they somehow have to find another answer.