O’Neill and Keane might be thanking their stars that the humiliation in Cardiff was the first Ireland game in decades not available on free-to-air TV.
From the very start, the players looked toothless and disorganised and getting out having shipped just four goals and no more was probably the best thing about the night.
In the previous seven meetings between Wales and Ireland, our Irish Sea neighbours had managed to score just twice but they finished Thursday’s League B clash as the top scorers in Nations League history.
It was all thanks to Bale and Ampadu and a manager allowing them to pass the ball and attack, but thanks also to Ciaran Clark and an Irish set-up devoid of any tangible inspiration.
O’Neill said afterwards that they were missing four or five of their Premier League players.
The players in the top flight they were actually missing were Greg Cunningham with four caps and a Premier League player already playing in his position. They were missing Shane Long who hasn’t exactly been an ever-present, nor an ever-scorer of late. And they were missing Robbie Brady.
Arter and Rice obviously weren’t there either: Rice who has made himself unavailable for selection – so he no longer really counts – and Arter who walked away after an issue with the management team, so that doesn’t count as an uncontrollable blow either.
In reality, Ireland were really missing just James McClean and Robbie Brady for the Wales game. That’s it. O’Neill didn’t play David Meyler or Matt Doherty out of his own choice and no matter how much huffing or puffing that was done, it wasn’t going to change proceedings.
A report in The Guardian described a seething Roy Keane at half time:
‘The half-time team talks would have been poles apart as a seething Roy Keane, O’Neill’s assistant, headed into the changing rooms ahead of Giggs, his former Manchester United teammate. But any harsh words in Ireland’s dressing room made little obvious difference as Wales continued to dominate.’
It means that, in the last two games, Ireland have leaked nine goals. They lost 5-1 to Denmark with just one home game between them and the World Cup and they were destroyed by Wales. Next, they play Denmark.
Only one man could rescue it now. Give it Giggsy ’til the end of the season.
Wales 3 up against Ireland. Got to give it to Giggsy…at least to the end of the season.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 6, 2018
The worst thing about Ireland playing football though, apart from having to endure the boredom of a team not trying to do anything, is that other people can see it.
And the Welsh and British journalists who tuned in to watch a once ‘hard to break down’ Irish side being waltzed around were not impressed with the state of them.
The luck of the Irish spared them.
Ireland, you got lucky. 4-1 flattered you!
— Guto Llewelyn (@GutoLlewelyn) September 6, 2018
Excuses.
Martin O'Neill saying, "I can't remember when we have been as decimated as this" – referring to injuries – is an encouraging use of the word 'decimated' in its original meaning, because from what I can see, Ireland were missing only about a tenth of their squad.
— Huw Davies (@thehuwdavies) September 7, 2018
Overwhelmed.
HT Wales 3-0 Republic of Ireland. Fabulous attacking football from Giggs' young and daring Welsh side. Ireland have been totally overwhelmed.
— Dafydd Pritchard (@DafPritchard) September 6, 2018
Chasing shadows.
Martin O'Neill's Ireland left chasing shadows as Wales' young guns Ampadu, Brooks, Lawrence and Roberts (+ Bale and Ramsey) produce the goods. Report from 🏴 4-1 🇮🇪. #WALIRL https://t.co/ePaml6ycLC
— Alex Bywater (@_AlexBywater) September 7, 2018
It was THAT comfortable…
We can even afford to take Gareth Bale off ☕️
— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) September 6, 2018
As bad as it’s been.
As bad an Ireland display as I can ever remember this. Reminiscent of the end of the Jack Charlton era.
— Ian McCullough (@IanMac08) September 6, 2018
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Denmark are no longer fielding a futsal team.
