- Ben Blake reports from the Stade de Bordeaux
“KEEP YOUR head up” was the message coming from Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph and a number of the Ireland players after yesterday’s 3-0 defeat to Belgium.
The Boys in Green went in 0-0 at half-time after keeping their superior opponents at bay during a tense first 45 minutes.
However, they failed to weather the storm in the second half and were caught with a couple of counter-attacks — Romelu Lukaku scoring either side of Alex Witsel’s header.
This Wednesday sees Ireland face Italy in Lille at the same time that Belgium face Sweden in Nice.
Three points against the team certain to finish top of Group E is a must if Martin O’Neill’s side are to avoid exit at the group stages, and Randolph has called on fans to believe.
“It’s not the end of the world — the be-all and end-all,” said the West Han stopper. “We still have one more chance. As a few of the boys said: ‘Keep your head up, we still have another game’.”
The last few years we’ve gone out against the top teams and got results. You’re looking at the last games, one more game to qualify.
“We know what we need to do, I know it’s a cliché, treat it as a cup final.”
Listen to The42′s Ben Blake on the 98FM Euro 2016 Daily podcast throughout the tournament
Bottom line is we should have beaten Sweden.This group does have a track record of coming back from nowhere and getting wins when they’re desperately needed(Georgia at home,Germany and Bosnia)today was disappointing but we’ll get behind the lads.
Randolph and O Shea did well
Why are we still playing so negative same as 2012 if Iceland Hungary and the North who changed there formation can have a go why can’t we sometimes u just have Tobermory brave and go for it poor Shane Long must feel like he’s the only Irish player on the pitch he’s so isolated
Bare in mind we are playing Italy’s reserves, there are two sides to the coin, I feel they are more beatable but at the same time I think they will be more dangerous going forward with the likes of Insigne etc going forward. I always felt we could get something out of the game but after today I am concerned. I personally think we are exaggerating the result today bare in mind we are playing the no.2 side in the world today and a result like this was likely. Against Italy we will need a perfect game to get the result we need and my main hope is the players forget about today just move on and reassess when the championship is over
Italy won’t put their second team out.
The manager has already said he will, even before the match yesterday, Why would they put their best 11 out when they have already won the group ?
It’s been reported that Conte will make 7 changes to the side that best Sweden. That icludes the Goalkeeper, 2 centre backs, CDM and winter.
they have 5 on yellow cards,what would you do?
The hit and hope football today was a disgrace it may have worked in the qualifiers but in tournaments you need to play it on the carpet. I would like to see us play against Italy like we did facing Sweden
I really do hope we win next Wednesday but were we will get the goals from!! Ireland averaged a goal a game in the qualifying campaign
We’re due two goals on Wednesday so, that should do it!!
Thank god we did not play Iceland we would have frozen
To many mediocre players on the Irish team unfortunately
Yea Italy are going to hammer us