MARTIN O’NEILL and his players return to Versaille tonight with just a single point for their night’s work.
But the Ireland manager insists they travel too with a lot of positives.
“It was a great effort,” O’Neill told RTÉ after this evening’s 1-1 draw with Sweden. “We’ve seen over the last few years that effort is not something we are lacking.
“But the play was really great. We scored the goal just after half time — fantastic goal — and Wes stuck it in magnificently and great work by Seamus Coleman as well.
“And then we had to weather a storm for a little while, a lot of corner kicks that we had to defend as strongly as we could. They were entitled to come into the game at some stage or another but overall there’s just real disappointment at having not taken all three points.
“We deserved them. We absolutely deserved them and three would have been better than one. But nevertheless, a performance to be delighted with.”
A win would have all but have secured Ireland’s passage to the second round but Ciaran Clark’s own goal cancelled out Wes Hoolahan’s excellent strike.
“Of course, of course,” said O’Neill when asked if he regretted not seeing out the tie. “But it’s not as if we didn’t create chances. At half time the game should probably have been beyond Sweden. That’s the nature of football.”
The goalscorer was replaced — by squad captain Robbie Keane late on — as was talismanic forward Jon Walters. Both needed to be saved for the next day, explained O’Neill.
“Wes was struggling. He hasn’t played much football as well. Jon Waters was struggling too. That’s the nature of the competition. It’s tournament football; you don’t get much chance to rest up.
“But again, disappointment”in the dressing room but they shouldn’t be with the nature of the performance.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Did the nation proud.
Fair result in the end. Compared to four years ago it’s a lot better.
It’s all very flat in Paris here. Not a bad result but 2 points lost really. Sweden are no good.
Great heart from Ireland tonite Courage as you would always expect but precision and focus to boot O Neill had their heads right You could sense it with every kick of the ball Win would have been nice but c’est la vie Happy Irishman I am tonite
Great performance but it’s difficult not to be disappointed we couldn’t hold out. Thought we tired alot in the last 20.
Well done.
The boyz were heroic.
It’s always disappointing when you lose a lead. Had we been one down and equalized late on we would be looking at the game in a totally different way. It’s all about perspective. Overall I’m happy enough with the result. If we go into the game with Belgium with the same positive attitude I’m confident we can get something out of it.