Sammie Szmodics: 'The best way to shut people up is to show what you can do'

The Blackburn Rovers forward was delighted to at last make his debut on Saturday evening. 

Sammie Szmodics of Republic of Ireland shoots under pressure from Timothy Castagne of Belgium. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Sammie Szmodics has shared his sense of relief at having finally made his debut for the Republic of Ireland, and how his bow will finally ‘shut people up’ who doubted his commitment to the cause.

The Blackburn Rovers player got his hands on an Irish passport back at the start of the decade but had to wait much longer for his first taste of international football before John O’Shea handed him 70 minutes against Belgium on Saturday.

That gap between getting his documents and his cap left ample room for all sorts of conjecture, his eligibility for Hungary only adding to the chorus of cries that this was a player who would never wear the green shirt.

“Of course there’s doubts. I had to go home in the past because I was injured, and other things have happened, and you read stuff in the press that I don’t want to play for Ireland which is ridiculous because I was desperate to.

“The best way to shut people up is to show what you can do and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” the 28-year old said after the game. “I love playing for Ireland and I’m excited now for the future to hopefully get many more caps.” Szmodics didn’t let his opportunity pass him by.

He set Chiedozie Ogbene up for a glorious goal chance in the opening minutes and worked himself into place for a couple of half-chances with one fired over the bar at the end of the first-half and another blocked early in the second.

“Like I said earlier in the week, I enjoy the defensive side of things, getting back making tackles and taking the full-back or wing-back the other way.

“I created a couple of chances, could have had an assist first-half for a goal and obviously the shot second-half got blocked. Just really enjoyed it, didn’t want to come off. I’m looking forward to another game on Tuesday.” He had plenty of support on site with his partner, parents, two brothers and more all sat in the stands and the applause on his exit after 70 or so minutes spoke for an appreciation among the Aviva audience.

“Like I said, I’ve been ready for this for three or four years and to finally do it is unbelievable but a big relief for me because it was one of the biggest days of my career. I hope I can wear the Ireland jersey a lot more.” 

Belgium were clearly in holding mode but he adapted effortlessly to a style of football that is far more tactical than anything he sees habitually in the English Championship, and to his role high and mostly wide in the Irish XI.

Some of his work with Evan Ferguson was encouraging and, with Ogbene operating on the far side of that attacking thrust, it made for an exiting trio of outlets for O’Shea in his first experience as caretaker boss.

“It's been a long, good week of tactical training. We play this formation at Blackburn but I play Evan's position, sort of a false nine. We don't really play with a nine because it's sort of a wide No.10 role.

“Sometimes you're playing as a left winger tracking the full-back, which I don't mind doing. We kept changing the players around throughout the week and everyone understood their roles, the subs who came on did brilliantly and understood their roles.

“John made it a really good, easy week with a lot of information. I think we've taken it on board. I know we're not playing for points but on another night we probably take three because we've created some good chances and defended brilliantly.” Switzerland on Tuesday night in Dublin may provide another opportunity depending on O’Shea’s thinking but the seal has been broken on his Irish ambitions now and he already has it in his mind to share the moment with those closest to him.

Players get three jerseys per game from the FAI. One will go to his mum and dad, another to his agent, in recognition of the roles they all played in making this happen. The third he will keep for himself, but who gets the real one?

“Me, definitely, but I need to wash it.”