The talking points from Lyon

Three major lessons to take from Ireland’s loss to France...

1. Ireland are a better team on the front foot

Unlike in the last outing against a side of superior quality, Ireland adopted a different approach from the outset by pressing the French high into their own half. Martin O’Neill’s team might have held Belgium scoreless for the opening 45 minutes nine days ago but the tactic of slowing the game down was apparent and designed to nick a point.

For all the panache of the opposition, France were a lame duck in the first half, sufficiently rattled for Ireland to have finished them off by the break.

The nation that didn’t need to qualify and struggled in each of their group games were no Belgium or Germany in calibre and regret may become the lingering emotion as the week unfolds.

If a team like Croatia, with a smaller population than Ireland’s, can beat Spain at a major tournament, then the Irish should possess a similar mindset. It seems the new generation of Brady, Hendrick, and Randolph are of that mould.

2. More fresh blood is needed

Now that a raft of retirements is imminent, the onus is on the remainder of the squad to lead the charge into a challenging World Cup campaign from the autumn.

The evolution of the team under Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane was evidenced in the fact only three of yesterday’s line-up were in the starting team which commenced the campaign in Georgia 21 months ago.

While some of the newcomers during the transition proved ready-made replacements, question marks remain about the quality of others. Shane Duffy and Richard Keogh managed ably against a second-string Italian outfit on Wednesday only to be obliterated at key stages by the slick French.

Central defence is one area of concern but so too is the striking department, given the exit of Robbie Keane.

Shane Long’s goal-scoring contribution along the journey was as an impact substitute against Poland and Germany, not during the four games in France where he drew blanks.

Goals win games and there’s a distinct lack of alternative firepower waiting on the fringes.

3. Interest in Irish football must be nourished

The buzz created by Robbie Brady’s late winner against Italy on Wednesday had the nation in a similar trance to those generated during the World Cups of 1990, 1994, and 2002.

In addition to the thousands travelling to France, multiples more were consumed by the national team in the four days leading up to yesterday and that interest should be capitalised upon by the FAI to create a sustainable model whereby not just qualification, but progression in tournaments is the norm rather than an exception.

Five of O’Neill’s starting team in the last two games previously plied their trade in the League of Ireland and promoting that sector should be a priority for the governing body. The FAI earned €11m from the team’s Euro exploits and it behoves them to divert at least 20% of that windfall into a marketing budget and prize-pot aimed at boosting the derisory attendances at most grounds around the country.