Ireland 0-2 Greece
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
Ireland are looking to recover from Saturday’s disappointing 2-0 loss to England.
By contrast, the Greeks are coming into this game after an impressive 3-0 victory over Finland.
The visitors will be most people’s favourites this evening, given that they beat the Boys in Green twice in the recent Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Confirmation of tonight’s Ireland XI, which has three changes from the England defeat.
STARTING XI | Ireland v Greece
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 10, 2024
Andrew Omobamidele comes into the side as well as Jason Knight and Alan Browne for the crucial match against Greece at the Aviva Stadium tonight 👏
Kick-off is at 7.45pm, not long to go now 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/iSXWRSmDiQ
Who do you think will win tonight?
Poll Results:
We’re underway…
5 mins – Not much to note so far.
Ireland appear to have adopted a 4-5-1 shape, with Brady and Omobamidele as full-backs.
Smallbone is seemingly playing as a 10 almost with Szmodics as the lone striker.
10 mins – Greece are seeing plenty of the ball with Ireland happy to sit back.
Neither side has created a significant chance yet.
11 mins – Chatzigiovanis’ corner finds Koulierakis, who gets in front of Omobamidele and heads just over the bar.
Greece have played most of the football so far with Ireland struggling to acquire any rhythm.
17 mins – It remains a very cagey contest.
But Ireland are coming into it more, with more of the game being played in the Greek half.
19 mins – Browne is in a good position but his cross is straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
Both centre-backs were in the box — Ireland need to make more of those types of situations.
22 mins: Good interplay between Smallbone and Knight on the edge of the area.
The latter’s low cross finds Browne but his finish is deflected off the nearby defender and safely into the arms of Vlachodimos.
26 mins: Bakasetas produces a decent effort from a free kick about 30 yards out.
However, Kelleher gets down well to parry it away for a corner.
31 mins: Omobamidele has just been somewhat harshly booked for blocking the run of Tzolis.
Otherwise not much has happened in the last few minutes.
33 mins: Szmodics attempts to audaciously lob the goalkeeper from about 40 yards out after Jason Knight’s long punt falls to him.
It’s well off target in the end though.
Here’s one of the few chances Ireland have created thus far…
🇮🇪 0-0 🇬🇷: Ireland with the best passage of play in the game so far as a sweeping pass from Jayson Molumby gets them going, but Alan Browne couldn't find the finish.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 10, 2024
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38 mins: Collins wins a header on the edge of the area but knocks over Bakasetas as he does so and is penalised.
Szmodics follow-up shot from the edge of the area drifted wide anyway.
42 mins: Ireland have the ball in the net but it’s ruled out for a marginal offside.
It’s a shame as it was a great piece of play.
O’Shea’s cross-field pass found Ogbene, whose spectacular strike found the corner of the net despite Vlachodimos getting a hand on it.
45 mins: Great interplay down the right between Ogbene and Smallbone.
Eventually, the ball was pulled back to Browne on the edge of the area, but the Sunderland star produced a disappointing finish, blazing over the bar.
Ireland are finishing the half strongly.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 0-0 GREECE
So that’s the first half over.
It’s been far from perfect, but Ireland will be encouraged after an improved showing from Saturday.
Perhaps partially as a result of the change in formation, Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men look much more solid, though the inferior opposition is clearly a factor too.
Chances for both sides have been few and far between, but Ireland came into it more as the half progressed and were unlucky to see a brilliant Ogbene effort ruled out as they finished the stronger of the two sides.
Here’s a look at the moment when Ireland briefly thought they had opened the scoring…
🇮🇪 0-0 🇬🇷: Chiedozie Ogbene has the ball in the net after a stunning strike, but the Irishman had strayed just offside and the goal won't count.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 10, 2024
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The second half is underway…
IRELAND 0-1 GREECE (Ioannidis 50)
Out of nothing, Greece take the lead.
Bakasetas squares it to Ioannidis, who is afforded far too much space to plant a superb effort into the corner of the net with Kelleher well beaten.
56 mins: Ogbene puts in a decent cross but Knight can’t get enough power in his downward header to trouble the goalkeeper.
Better from Ireland, who have Evan Ferguson warming up.
58 mins: Tsimikas has been booked for a late challenge on Omobamidele.
It looked nasty on the replay and perhaps the Greece star was lucky to get away with only a yellow.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
🇮🇪 0-1 🇬🇷: Greece take the lead against the run of play as Ioannidis is gifted far too much time and space on the edge of the Irish penalty area. Some finish though.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 10, 2024
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63 mins: Ireland make their first change and it’s an attacking one.
Jayson Molumby is replaced by Evan Ferguson.
67 mins: Worrying moment for Ireland as Tzolis gets in behind the defence but shoots over from a difficult angle.
Greece then make a double change — Bouchalakis and Chatzigiovanis are replaced by Pelkas and Zafeiris.
As I type, Bakasetas curls a free kick just over from about 30 yards out.
74 mins: Double change for Ireland.
Jason Knight and Andre Omobamidele are replaced by Kasey McAteer and Matt Doherty.
77 mins: Greece are enjoying a good spell of possession at the moment.
It’s a long time since Ireland created a clear-cut chance.
82 mins: Better from Ireland. They have Greece pinned back.
But as I type, Smallbone overhits a pass that goes out of play for a goal kick.
84 mins: More changes for Ireland
Ogbene and Szmodics are replaced by Robinson and Idah.
The attendance has been announced as 37,204.
85 mins: Robinson nearly makes an immediate impact.
His shot from the edge of the area deflects wide for a corner.
IRELAND 0-2 GREECE (Tzolis 87 mins)
That’s almost certainly game over, unfortunately.
Greece counter. Tzolis gets away from Collins and fires an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net.
Will Smallbone is named player of the match.
Members of the crowd disagree and there is a smattering of boos when this is announced.
To be fair, not many Irish players have excelled.
Here’s that second goal…
🇮🇪 0-2 🇬🇷: That's game over for Ireland and it's far too easy for Greece as Tzolis chases down a simple ball over the top from Bakasetas before firing home.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 10, 2024
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FULL-TIME: IRELAND 0-2 GREECE
To be fair Rena Buckley has 16 All Ireland medals between Gaelic football & Camogie stating she has won “several” All Ireland’s does not convey the magnitude of her achievements she has won the same amount of medals as Briege Corkery
Stephanie Roche doesn’t even make the irish team and should not be on this list
No room for kieran donnachy?? A real whinging oul one
Christina McMahon fights in Mexico on Saturday for the Superfly Champion of the world title. Definitely deserves a place on this list.
Also, sorry, I don’t know who Annalise Murphy is but from your article I’m not exactly sure what sport she plays.
One of the worlds top sailors
What about Easky Britton? ..5 times Irish surf champ and also first Irish woman to ever surf in Iran
First Irish woman to surf in Iran?!?!? That hotbed of surfing
Unreal how there was exactly 42 of them!
Nina Carberry at 38. I just hope this list is in no particular order. Because If it is. That’s disgraceful
You’re right in suspecting it’s in no particular order, Michael.
Mick, riding a horse isn’t a sport. The horse does all the work. She shouldn’t be there.
Gary – explain how when a horse is jockey less after a fall that horse almost never wins? It’s cos the jockey is capable of getting more from a horse once it becomes tired, ridiculous comment.
Yeah, hitting a horse with a whip to make it run faster really does mark someone out as a top sportsperson
Missed out on sisters Isobel and Cecilia Joyce from the Irish Cricket Team – currently competing at the World T20 Championships
Agreed and Kim Garth
I’m confused by the title. Are they currently Irish or what? Makes my head hurt. Briggs is a legend!!!
They’re currently competing. Hence the absence of the retired likes of Sonia O’Sullivan et al.
What about Pauline Curley?
Maybe use the key word competing the next time. It’d be a bit clearer.
Ah come on…current 2 in a row World Handball Champion Aisling Reilly not on this list.
Gráinne Doyle. Basketball. Senior League & cup double, twice with . Defeating Katie Taylor and others to 2014 her.ie sports woman of the year.
Ah lads, we know the Rugby lads are the media darlings but I see now it extending to the ladies. No doubt the ladies game has come on in a big way but it was coming from a very very low base. Kerry ladies footballer Louise Galvin made the 6 nations squad a few years back after playing a handful rugby of games and taking it up some time in her 20′s. That gives an indication of the standard.
Talking the talk and about your mental strength on the RTE chat shows doesn’t make you the greatest athlete. There are 20 ladies playing gaelic and soccer for every one playing rugby. The ladies GAA scene is highly competitive at club and county level with huge number participating. Does Brige Corkery have to get a chat show appearance to brag about how professional and mentally tough she is to get recognition? All she cares about is competing and winning.
It’s more laughable to put Briggs ahead of double European cross country champion Fionnuala McCormack or Katie Taylor really puts the tin had on this list.
The odds of top athletes being in women’s rugby are minuscule. I have no problem with rugby, I’ve played it before the media started fawning over it we just need a bit of prospective here.
The highest placed ladies soccer player is a lady who got an amazing goal but can’t make the Irish team. Those keeping her out of the team don’t feature.
Such a list should be comprised based on substance not hype. This is all about the hype.
Should read Gráinne Dwyer
Paul,how could you forget this girl.Won leagues,cups,player of the year,fans player of the year,coaches player of the year,players player of the year,and still only 22.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/video-denise-osullivan-hailed-as-a-hometown-star-at-evening-echo-awards-311232.html
I’m sure there are plenty of similarly talented athletes not mentioned above, Padraig. Think of the list as a conversation starter rather than a definitive compilation of the best female athletes in Ireland.
What about the women’s Irish darts team? Some of those lads are seriously talented
I’ve heard of 7 of them.
Ah lads! Aisling Reilly has to make this list! Irish/World number 1 female handballer, 2 time senior world champion and who knows how many Senior All Ireland titles!
She’d have more all Ireland medals than they have in Kerry!
Has to be on the list.
What about Cathy Gannon……possibly the only professional female jockey were have
What about Jenny Egan from Canoeing-European Bronze Medalist; 4th place at European Games Baku; 6th place at World championships; 4th at World Marathon championships-all in the 2015 season…..who complied this list!!!??
Judy Reynolds has broken five Irish records in dressage over the last year. At the weekend she broke 2 of them again to qualify a place for Ireland in the 2016 Olympic Games.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/horse-sport-ireland-await-verdict-on-rio-places-for-individual-riders-1.2563042
prob worth inclusion.
Boxer Christina Mc Mahon should be listed! FACT
The Irish Women’s cricket team currently in India at T20 World Cup Finals?
Pity for them that none of them would get near some of the worst male athletes in the world in the same sports.
Equestrian sport is the only Olympic discipline where males and females compete in the same classes on the horses they’ve worked their asses off to train to that level.
This list is incredibley biased and shows a complete lack of knowledge of women in sport. In this year Ireland will send a full team to the European Championships in Norway for weightlifting. The standard is incredible with some Olympic prospects for the first time in history and none of these phenomenal athletes get a look in? What about 3 x Irelands fittest woman who represented Ireland at the Crossfit games.
Bit harsh there Brendan. I would disagree with it being “incredibly biased”. It’s decently accurate including athletes from a vast array of different disciplines. Granted there are omissions, but it would seem the author wants feedback and is willing to make amendments. There was a time that female athletes wouldn’t have been thought of for such a post! I’m glad they’re getting deserved publicity.
Haha ah yes the famous “crossfit athletes”!
What about Pitch & Putt? Chrissie Byrne and Marion Courtney
Pitch & putt lmao
Haha ah yes the famous “crossfit athletes”!
What about that conor mcgregor bitch?
Ciara Mageen 42nd and well behind a number of other athletes. You must be joking. Did anyone actually check the Rio Olympic qualified list as a starting point?
How about Geraldine Finnagen she holds more irish records in the Master then any other person. And has also won Master world titles currently rant 6th in the world for the pethalon?
Megan Connolly! A young irish sportstar doing her country proud!