Holding pattern continues for Ireland with Belgium stalemate

John O'Shea saw his new side put in a solid performance. 

Ireland's Evan Ferguson reacts after missing a penalty. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Ireland 0 Belgium 0 

Ireland were an Evan Ferguson penalty miss away from starting a new year and new era with victory over the fourth best team in the world.

Thankfully, it mattered little in this friendly setting, for the primary talking point among the 38,128 who turned up at Lansdowne Road was who will be in charge when the competitive stuff starts on September 7 with England in town to kickstart the Uefa Nations League campaign.

John O’Shea will have Tuesday’s visit of Switzerland to complete his caretaker stint, with the mystery incumbent in-waiting due to take over next month with a fourth straight home game, against Hungary on June 4, to begin his reign.

There were glimpses of the positive material he’ll inherit here, with debutant Sammie Szmodics impressive over his 70 minutes on the pitch and Séamus Coleman showing he’s still capable at 35 on his first international for a year.

Ferguson’s goal drought was prolonged by a Matz Sels penalty save on 27 minutes, a strange decision given set-piece specialist Robbie Brady was on the pitch.

Without a goal since his strike for Brighton against Notts Forest in November, the 19-year-old clutched handed the ball when Arthur Vermeeren was adjudged to have handled Dara O’Shea’s flick-on from a Nathan Collins downward header inside the box.

Had Ferguson not slipped on his approach, maybe he wouldn’t have struck it so centrally, allowing the Forest to easily bat away the effort.

𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗨𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧!

Went right down the middle and Sels saved with his legs!

He lost his footing just as he struck the ball! pic.twitter.com/U7GlnZygjU

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 23, 2024

That Josh Cullen was deemed man-of-the-match testified to the landscape, a friendly game as the business end of the club season beckons – most relevant for the visitors.

The FAI’s bizarre decision to restrict ticket sales to duos conspired against a larger crowd but one of their loudest cheers was reserved for seeing Brian Kerr perched against the tunnel in his FAI tracksuit. Whatever a technical advisor means, his comeback after years marooned in the wilderness will ensure this holding pattern is remembered.

The first team selection of O’Shea’s coaching career was highly-anticipated and the interim boss handed out one debut as a starter.

A blistering 27-goal season to date for Szmodics was rewarded with a start alongside Chiedozie Ogbene as the two supports behind Ferguson.

In-form goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher got the nod to unseat Gavin Bazunu and O’Shea kept the three-man defensive unit. Despite giddiness upon inspection of the team-sheet, he resisted the temptation to deploy Nathan Collins into midfield in a John Stones-style conversion ploy.

His first crunch decision in a standalone role revolved around the left-wing berth, culling Matt Doherty for the first time in an age to facilitate Robbie Brady’s return.

Belgium left Michy Batshuayi and Jeremy Doku on the bench – they face England on Wednesday – but they were introduced following a lacklustre first half by their standards.

In a new era for Ireland, it was refreshing to see them take the initiative early.

Ogbene should have at least hit the target after three minutes when sent clear by Szmodics but he fired wide of the near post.

Szmodics scooped one over from a similar position as the end of a half concluded with Ferguson’s knock-on giving him a sight at the target.

Ireland, unlike Belgium, delayed making changes. Within 10 seconds of the restart, Brady’s whipped cross landed on Ferguson’s header but he couldn’t keep his attempt down.

It was mainly patchy fare afterwards, lots of free-kicks and pedestrian passing but Kelleher kept Ireland scoreless with a splendid one-handed save, diving low to his right to paw away Thomas Meunier’s goalbound shot.

Neither side seemed too fussed not to win. Victory will be more of a vital commodity to whoever O’Shea hands the full-time keys onto.

IRELAND (3-4-2-1): C Kelleher; A Omobamidele, N Collins, D O’Shea; S Coleman, J Cullen, W Smallbone (F Ebosele 86); S Szmodics, R Brady (M Doherty 81); C Ogbene (M Johnston 71), S Szmodics (J Knight 71); E Ferguson (A Idah 71).

BELGIUM (4-2-3-1): M Sels (T Kaminski 83); T Castagne (J Doku 46), W Faes, K De Winter (A Onana 64), O Deman; A Vranckx, Y Tielemans (T Meunier 46); J Bakayoko (D Lukebakio 64), A Vermeeren, L Trossard (M Batshuayi 67); L Openda.

Referee: Rohit Saggi (Norway).

Attendance: 38128