Unlucky Ireland pay the penalty
But this morning it’s Germany who are in poll position after securing a one-nil victory with a controversial penalty and then holding on to the lead in the face of sustained Irish pressure and despite ending the game with just nine men as tempers spilled over at the final whistle.
Manager Sean McCaffrey was a disappointed man at the end. “It was never a penalty, I saw it clearly on the replay” he said, “and we dominated the game, creating stacks of chances. We’re still in with a chance but the problem is that the likes of Bulgaria tend to be afraid of Germany. One thing for sure — we weren’t tonight.”
