It could have been avoided so easily.
The first half between Ireland and Iceland at the Aviva Stadium was shite a cagey affair…
Both teams were pretty uninspiring and there was a serious lack of goalmouth action at both ends of the pitch.
Iceland did score, however, and on the balance of play in the opening 45 minutes, you could probably say that the away team deserved it.
They looked more comfortable in possession and created the better of chances.
Their goal came thanks to an excellent free-kick from Hoerdur Magnusson.
The Irish team were caught out cold by the 24-year-old Bristol City defender’s strike as the ball settled in the bottom corner of the net.
There must have been some miscommunication in the Irish defensive wall that was set up because some players jumped and other didn’t.
ICYMI: Here's the goal from @bcfctweets' @HordurM34 that has Iceland 1-0 up at the break. #IRLICE https://t.co/gThqymMneS
— eir Sport (@eirSport) March 28, 2017
Conor Hourihane and Jeff Hendrick’s feet didn’t leave the ground as the ball flew over their heads and into the bottom corner of the net.
If they had jumped, it would have most likely been blocked and Ireland wouldn’t had found themselves a goal down with just a quarter of the game gone.
In fact, it actually looks like Hourihane ducks as the ball travels over the wall…
It seems that fans watching the game were outraged at the defending of this set piece.
Some were questioning the wall’s job.
Irelands wall for the free kick #IREvICE #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/lMDoL9djd4
— Paul G (@TisGiller) March 28, 2017
Wall has to do better!!!😏#IREvICE
— Andy Reid (@AndyReidXI) March 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/brianmcd87/status/846801229191811076
The Irish wall 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 #COYBIG #IREvICE
— Stephen Doyle (@StephenDoyle_D4) March 28, 2017
Wall should always jump! #IREvICE
— Killian Murphy (@NotTheActor) March 28, 2017
People copped that Hourihane looked to have ducked…
Who was the guy in the wall that ducked. Terrible effort.#IREvICE
— Dermot Healy (@DermotHealy2) March 28, 2017
How not to defend in a wall!!! #IREvICE #Duck
— Beats Per Minute (@sirbenimiles) March 28, 2017
Some people’s anger was then a bit over the top…
https://twitter.com/SimonCunnane/status/846801043933532161
Ireland improved in the second half thanks to the introduction of the likes of Daryl Horgan and Callum O’Dowda but they were unable to find a breakthrough.
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