Forget the marginal gains and just tot Ireland's points
Most fans knew already, of course. A pre-match vote on the You Boys In Green online forum saw 36% pick a single-goal victory as the most likely outcome – and there wasn’t even a box to tick for the kind of scoreline some pundits were calling for.
The problem is that Ireland’s exciting performances at Euro 2016 have come at a price; now it seems everyone wants it to be like Italy every week – all attacking impetus, high-octane football and glorious wins. A game in Moldova, it was suggested, was a chance to go full throttle and make that vision reality following a narrow and hard-fought 1-0 win over Georgia.
In the end, 3-1 went some way to achieving that – and was certainly enough to guarantee the kind of positive headlines which looked unlikely at half-time when the scores were level at 1-1. But Stephen Ward was brave enough in the build-up anyway to suggest the whole premise was flawed - and underline why the Republic must choose their own path.
There are many reasons why all-out attack is not necessarily the way to go for O’Neill’s men - due to limitations within the squad, the tactics of opponents and the style of football best suited to the players selected.
Moldova, ranked 161st in the world, may have conceded seven goals in their first two games in 2018 World Cup qualifying but when a team goes into a match under absolutely no pressure to win it, then a goalfest is not always so easy to achieve.
When Shane Long broke his five-month goal drought in only the second minute perhaps it seemed possible. But Moldova’s equaliser soon re-focused the Boys in Green to the most important part of their task – which was just to get three points. And, thank goodness, they did so – playing the right style of football at the right time and on their own terms.
Putting pressure on this team to win games by big margins and play Galactico-style football in the process really is unwelcome. The reality of the situation is big scores are likely to remain a challenge for O’Neil’s side – the retirement of record scorer Robbie Keane and an injury here to Long, replaced by young debutant Callum O’Dowda, have made it difficult.
But nevertheless, a creative display in midfield from Wes Hoolahan (brought in O’Neill said to add ‘artistry’ to the side) and a ruthless performance from McClean, who took his tally for his country to seven, provides hope.
A call in the New Year for Brentford’s Scott Hogan could provide further attacking options - the striker has certainly started the season well in the English Championship. But in the meantime, Ireland’s real challenge is to eke out victories in games like this and become a team that regularly and reliably qualifies for major tournaments.
Yes, France was fun – but there has been no World Cup party for the Boys In Green since 2002 and who will care how many goals and how many thrills were produced along the way if the fan zones in Russia are packed with green shirts in two years’ time?
There were one or two frustrations, that’s true, against a Moldova side ranked one place below Aruba, a country with a similar population to Cork. But McClean’s two second half goals, both clinically taken, amount to a job well done in what has been a very decent start to what looked a tough qualifying campaign – seven points from three games already, and six of them collected inside the last four days.
O’Neill’s side were cheered off the pitch in the end and the reception back home should be no different, even if there are plenty of things to improve.
“It’s a job well done,” insisted Republic legend Niall Quinn. “We’ve come through a nervy three days with six points and that’s what matters. It hasn’t been prolific but it’s the points that are important.”
Thank goodness for common sense. After all, who wants to see a future when, like England, the Boys in Green get booed off for winning a game by two goals?
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
