Seamus Coleman bemused by timid approach

If it’s true that all games are won and lost long before they begin then Ireland were a beaten docket by the time Cuneyt Cakir blew the first whistle at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on Saturday.

Within minutes, the trepidation in the team was palpable, betrayed by the length of time it took for the players to restart the game after balls had gone out of play.

Compare that body language with the hustle that typified the performance against Sweden the Monday before.