All and nothing to play for
Ireland, playing above themselves, didn’t do quite enough to get what they wanted.
That was Saturday night at Croke Park in a nutshell, another stage in the boom and bust cycle which has characterised Ireland’s Group D campaign. On this occasion, Ireland were a touch unlucky to fall short of a transitory high, that of defeating an admittedly weakened German side with their own patched-up team.
But after this encouragingly whole-hearted display, it’s now vital that forward momentum is maintained throughout the remaining two games, beginning with Wednesday night’s rematch against the Cypriots, old pals with whom it’s fair to say we have some issues.
Given that Ireland’s chances of qualifying before Saturday were already on the downside of slim to none, it’s not surprising that at the final whistle many assumed that slim had just left Croker in the company of the happy German supporters.
Actually, the life-support plug has not yet been pulled, although the official turning off would take place on Wednesday were the Czechs to get a point in Munich and Ireland fail to beat Cyprus.
With Germany already through to the finals, the former must be a distinct possibility, while the latter is the sort of result that would have been deemed unthinkable up until this time last year when, as your therapist has no doubt helped you recall in a safe environment, the Cypriots ran riot against the Irish on a night of footballing infamy in Nicosia.
In any event, qualification, even if it still exists in the realms of the theoretical, is not the issue now. Nothing less than Steve Staunton’s credentials as the manager are at stake as Ireland look to take maximum points – and turn in more displays to match Saturday night’s – against Cyprus at home and Wales away.
That a substantial section of the public, and not just the dreaded media, still have massive reservations about the gaffer was clearly audible in the booing from some of the attendance which greeted mention of Staunton’s name as the answer to a half-time trivia quiz in Croker on Wednesday night.
That the question pertained to his prodigious achievements as a player – specifically, the 100th cap he won against the Germany in Ibaraki at the 2002 World Cup – only served to make his perceived fall from grace since then seem all the more poignant.
Those who have been quick to condemn Staunton as manager, may not be so keen to pay due tribute to him for his marshalling of the team on Saturday. But they should. When Staunton was appointed, we were told by the FAI that his motivational and leadership powers would help compensate for his chronic lack of managerial experience. That notion has been put to a severe test on a number of occasions in the course of this group but the evidence on the pitch on Saturday night clearly indicated that his half-time team talk pressed all the right buttons.
After a first 45 which had seen plenty of gutsy endeavour but nothing like the required attacking tempo from a home team in search of a win, the same Irish XI came out for the second half with a proper spring in their step, launching into a sustained period of pressure on the German rearguard which finally had the big crowd finding its voice for all the right reasons.
The visitors may have had their fair share of chances in the game – not least when Steve Finnan had to clear off his line – but the clearest sights of goal still fell to the Irish and, had Robbie Keane shown more composure when twice confronted only by Jens Lehmann, Ireland would have recorded a victory worthy of (and I use the term advisedly) unqualified celebration.
Or at least as unqualified as victory can be when it’s against a side which one German journalist described afterwards as “not just a B team, but a C team.” Tellingly, coach Joachim Loew didn’t demur.
As for Stan, well, he wouldn’t be the man if he didn’t cause eyes to be raised and heads to be scratched at some point on match day. On Saturday, the initial bafflement was engendered by the inclusion of Joey O’Brien and Andy Keogh in the starting XI. The former was at least understandable in the context of the problems the manager faced at centre-half, and the Bolton man duly went on to reward Staunton’s decision-making in this regard with an excellent performance alongside Richard Dunne. Indeed, all across the back four, Dunne’s gratuitous clattering tackle and yellow card offence notwithstanding, Ireland’s defending was superb, with Stephen Kelly, again out of position on the left, performing with far more distinction than he had in Bratislava and early on in Prague. And, finally back on the right side in every sense, Steve Finnan had his most effective outing in a green shirt in quite a while.
Andy Keogh’s selection on the right side of midfield was more problematic. The Wolves striker is an admirable young player, as hard-working as he is bright around the box, but virtually all his best work was done when he was tracking back to win the ball. It was going in the opposite direction that he found difficult. Repeatedly, a booming pass from man-of-the-match Andy Reid would find Keogh in space hugging the touchline but, just as often, the player’s unsuccessful attempts to get the better of German full back Marcell Jansen served only to remind us that the loss of Damien Duff has been a blow a team of Ireland’s limited creativity could ill-afford in this campaign.
The fitful Aiden McGeady was given another chance on Saturday, this time from the bench, but with Lee Carsley’s suspension meaning another midfield reshuffle on Wednesday, the case for Liam Miller to come in against Cyprus ought to be watertight. There will also be an anxious wait to see if Andy Reid’s dodgy ankle has survived Saturday’s exertions. Not everything he does comes off as planned, but the Charlton man’s skill on the ball and range of passing are now vital to Ireland’s chances of finishing the group in a winning mood.
Which is what it’s all about now, for Staunton, for the players and for the fans who responded with enthusiasm to Saturday’s mighty effort but who, once again, were left feeling short-changed at the death.
There is still plenty of time in which to reflect at leisure on the rollercoaster ride that has been Ireland’s negotiation of Group D, and the visit of Cyprus, of all teams, is bound to inspire much grim looking into the rearview mirror.
But the meaning of the remaining two fixtures has less to do with what might have been that what can happen now and in the run-up to the next World Cup. For Steve Staunton, in particular, there is still all and nothing to play for.
Given 7, Finnan 8, Dunne 7, O’ Brien 8, Kelly 7, Keogh 5 (McGeady 80, 6), Carsley 7, Reid 9, Kilbane 6 (Murphy 90, 5), Keane 6, Doyle 6 (Long 70, 7). Subs Not Used: Colgan, Bruce, Miller, Douglas.
Lehmann 7, A Friedrich 7, Mertesacker 8, Metzelder 8, Jansen 7, Fritz 7, Schweinsteiger 5 (Rolfes 18, 6), Frings 7, Trowchowski 6 (Castro 90, 5), Gomez 5 (Podolski 64, 7), Kuryani 6. Subs Not Used: Hildebrand, M Friedrich, D Odonkor, P Helmes.
Martin Hansson (Sweden) 7 Handled the occasion well, though he might have been more strict with Torsten Frings’ transgressions.
*** Ireland’s rousing second-half display made for a memorable atmosphere at Croke Park, if ultimately not the result the crowd craved.
An obvious point, but a crucial one. Damien Duff has been sorely missed ever since he succumbed to an ankle injury in April. Ireland simply do not have anyone of his pace and incisiveness on the flanks and, while he will probably never again be able to scale the heights of 2002, a fit Duff would give the team an extra dimension. Stephen Ireland, too, is needed to provide some guile in midfield, although he must be sure he has banished his psychological demons before stepping back into the high-pressure international arena.
If Ireland are seeking inspiration in this dark hour, they should look no further than Scotland. Alex McLeish has showed what can be achieved when hard-working, but not extravagantly gifted, players have a coherent game plan to work with. Ireland have just as much talent to call upon as the Scots so it is up to Steve Staunton to match McLeish’s tactical nous and make sure his side play to their strengths: a solid central defence, the creative skills of Andy Reid and the predatory talents of Robbie Keane.
Ireland have been on the queasiest of roller-coaster rides under Staunton’s stewardship, providing dizzying highs and stultifying lows in equal measure. It is time for some consistency, and Staunton must set the example. The manager has to pick his best available players in their favoured positions rather than squeezing square pegs into round holes. Equally, the players must reward his faith by applying maximum effort at all times, something which has not always been the case in this qualifying campaign.
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