Irish effort and discipline too much for Bosnia
It’s a cliché, and often an insult. When opposing managers are asked about Ireland’s qualities, they always speak about a ‘never-say-die attitude’, how they’ll work hard and fight for every ball.
Irish fans often roll their eyes when hearing, yet again, how their team will give it everything, but we should appreciate this quality that seems inherent in Irish teams.
Bosnia, while not a great team, are largely a technically better side, but they couldn’t overcome a spirited Irish side who harassed and forced them into mistakes, to lose their composure and ultimately the game and a place in France next summer.
At the Euros, regardless of who they draw, this team will not be beat for effort or determination.
Yes, we’d all love to see the team string five or six pass moves together, and keep possession better, but that’s largely an issue for another day. Wes Hoolahan typifies exactly what we want to see in an Irish player. A technical, intelligent player, who works as hard as anyone. The Norwich playmaker chased every lost ball, hassled and harried and ran himself into the ground for the fifty or so minutes he was on the field.
Calm and intelligent in possession, but a workhorse when Ireland were looking to get the ball back.
We shouldn’t turn our noses up at this fighting spirit, or never say die attitude, or whatever you want to call it. If we could marry it to a more composed, technical, possession based style, that’d be great. Right now though, let’s appreciate the effort and commitment of this team.
In comparison, Bosnia completely lost their composure.
Ireland’s left side much stronger
Bosnia’s main threat on Friday came down our left hand side. That’s how they got their goal, when they got behind substitute James McClean and played a square ball across the box. Bosnia tried to exploit Ireland’s left side again tonight, but got little joy, particularly in the first-half.
This was partly because Stephen Ward, Ireland’s weak-link, didn’t play at the Aviva, but Martin O’Neill’s tactical shuffle also helped. Robbie Brady was excellent at left-back, whereas, on Friday, when he started in midfield, he didn’t always afford his full-back adequate protection. Tonight though he was full of energy, broke forward at every chance and won his individual battle.
Jeff Hendrick, playing on the left-hand side, also linked up well and covered for his former St Kevin’s Boy’s teammate. Ireland’s formation changed when James McClean and Shane Long came on, with the team switching to a 4-3-3/4-5-1, but O’Neill deserves credit for addressing a noticeable weakness in the team.
McCarthy’s energy is vital to the team
It took a while, and he may not be the midfield general, reincarnation of Roy Keane some had hoped for, but James McCarthy is a very good footballer. He was everywhere tonight, putting out fires, nipping in with tackles and winning the ball back for his side.
McCarthy’s energy set the tempo for hard working midfield and, despite fears he plays his best football without Glenn Whelan beside him, the Everton midfielder wasn’t in anyway impeded tonight.
Despite being a bit loose in possession, McCarthy made up for it by winning the ball back on numerous occasions and nearly always beat his man to second balls.
Jon Walters has become Ireland’s talisman
What a man. We were all expecting a lift with Jon Walters returning to the side from suspension, but this was a talismanic effort from the Stoke forward.
In addition to his goals, a well-taken penalty and a clever back-post finish, Walters was his usual physical, intelligent and hard working self. He has an uncanny knack of plucking the ball out of the air and bringing his teammates into the game. We all like to bemoan long-ball football, but Walters shows there can be a method to playing direct.
In truth, we shouldn’t be surprised. Walters has been Ireland’s best player and it’s fitting that he scores the goals to take the team to the Euros.
Ireland are going to the Euros
Just let that sink in for a second… it’s great, isn’t it?
Back in June, we were disconsolate following the draw against Scotland. The Scots were celebrating like they had already qualified and there was a real sense Ireland were going to miss out on the biggest European Championships ever. Five months on, a win against the world champions and a convincing dispatch of a fancied Bosnia team, and O’Neill’s side have made it.
Make no mistake about it, we’ve done this hard way. We were second seeds in possibly the hardest group, lost away to both of our direct rivals and had to beat Germany just to secure a play-off. There’s been injuries, suspensions and the decline of greatest ever goalscorer.
There was also a cloud of negativity that had to be removed following Giovanni Trapattoni’s disastrous final two years.
The last time Ireland played at the Euros the team were hammered and humiliated. This won’t happen again, whatever teams we draw for the finals this time, O’Neill’s team is more positive, organised and resilient and have earned their place at this tournament the hard way.
