Was this a blessing in disguise?

Russia 4, Ireland 2

A SALUTARY lesson this for Ireland; disappointing only because it was so predictable. Ireland, riding high on the bravado of a good World Cup, were outplayed at the Lokomotiv Stadium by a new Russia fighting hard to attain the admirable standards of old.

Russia included only three who started in the World Cup and failed to ascend to a level that was remarkable in an overall sense - they conceded two goals after all. But they attacked with verve, with urgency and with rare penetration. Four goals was evidence of that.

Yet it was important to emphasise their generous return owed as much to Ireland’s capacity to lapse into error as to their own attacking excellence. Ireland blundered repeatedly to produce a maladroit performance in a contest enjoined in a manner that was uncharacteristically cavalier.

This contention applied more to Ireland than it did Russia. After all Ireland never before conceded as many as four goals in Mick McCarthy’s reign and this defence has coped in some style with more pressurised situations than this - Iran in Tehran, Portugal in Lisbon, are outstanding examples.

So what went wrong? What strange potion was consumed so Ireland’s concentration was diluted, their application weakened? Suggestions that Ireland were in danger of succumbing to the worst influences of a successful World Cup were dismissed by McCarthy and captain Kenny Cunningham in forceful and persuasive terms. But on this evidence, a case could be most definitely be made.

Within four minutes of kick-off two Irish defenders - Steve Finnan and Shay Given had been caught in possession happily not a habit of theirs. Within another seven minutes Russia broke at pace and with conviction from defending a corner kick and who rescued Ireland by chasing to his own penalty area to make an interception but Damien Duff; hardly part of his brief.

Ireland have forged a formidable reputation on the back of their industry, their team-work, their efficiency. At their best they are so well drilled they obviously share an understanding of their individual and collective roles. They are an extremely compact unit.

Not so here. They were totally positive in their approach and it was no coincidence that they were close to claiming the first goal of the game when Duff’s shot deflected off Ian Harte to go over off Russia’s crossbar after just 14 minutes. Kariaka’s opening goal, six minutes later, was against the run of play.

This fact identified a mind-set that possibly spoke volumes for Ireland’s attitude. This was an Irish team ’gung-ho’ in pursuit of victory, chasing goals with an abandon that could only have been drawn from super confidence. Perhaps in spite of McCarthy’s and Cunningham’s best intentions, a World Cup exuberance infected Irish minds, unconsciously caused them to forget first principles - which must be not to concede, especially away.

The consequences were not productive. Ireland’s team-work was fragmented, the balance within the formation upset, their defence vulnerable in consequence. The game opened at a frenzied pace and Russia’s lead goal from Kariaka after 20 minutes only fed that frenzy still more.

There is an old adage in football that first you win the battle, then you play your football. Ireland attempted to match Russia for pace and aggression when they might have done better early on to have concentrated on retaining possession and dampening down the pace.

The loss of Duff through injury so early was not a help, of course. And they failed to score even though they had as many early chances as had Russia - Harte might have put away a header before Russia’s second in the 24th minute from Beschastnykh. But with McAteer and Kilbane playing as wingers rather than midfielders, Ireland were over-run as Russia flooded midfield and punished an exposed defence, particularly the two full-backs.

The first twenty minutes of the second half saw a vast improvement in the level of Ireland’s play. They retained the ball more effectively, showed patience in their build-up and systematically applied pressure right across the Russian defence. This was Ireland in World Cup mode - focused, disciplined and calculated in their work.

They were driven on by an inspired Robbie Keane in the unusual role of provider. Whether the use of Ireland’s best striker in this role was in Ireland’s best interests was open to question but debate of that issue will have to wait for another day. He forced the corner that enabled Gary Doherty bring Ireland back into it with a headed goal after 69 minutes.

Sadly for Ireland the benefits of this laudable come-back were negatived when Cunningham mis-judged a cross and Kerzhakov capitalised within another two minutes and the game was lost. Clinton Morrison showed Ireland’s undoubted spirit by snatching a goal in the 76th minute but Russia caused no surprise when they turned over possession to force an own goal from Phil Babb in the 87th minute.

McCarthy described it as a bad day at the office. That was an understatement as Ireland’s poor passing was and their lack of ball retention cost them dearly. Yet if it has succeeded in erasing thoughts of World Cup from Irish minds and illustrated the necessity to stick to first principles then it may prove to be that welcome interloper - a blessing in disguise.

RUSSIA (3-5-2); Ovchinnikov; Ignashevitch, Onopko, Nizhegorodov; Gusev (Solomatin 29) , Loskov, Aldonin, Yanovsky, Kariaka; Beschastnykn (Kerzhakov 46), Semak (Khokhlov 65).

IRELAND (4-4-2): Given; Finnan, Breen, Cunningham, Harte; McAteer (Doherty 65), Holland, Kinsella, Kilbane (Babb 85); Robbie Keane, Duff (Morrison 17).

Referee: C. Colombo (France).