Stephen Kenny: Luxembourg boss ‘denigrated all the great players who played for Ireland’

Home boss Holtz accused Kenny’s staff of unsporting behaviour after the final whistle, saying they had “played the big guys”

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny defended Irish football after a 3-0 World Cup qualifier win in Luxembourg (John Walton/PA)

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has offered a passionate defence of Irish football following comments from Luxembourg counterpart Luc Holtz.

In the run-up to Ireland’s 3-0 World Cup qualifier victory at the Stade de Luxembourg on Sunday, Kenny had been unhappy with Holtz’s description of his team’s style of play as “British” and the same as they had adopted for the “last 100 years”.