Match report: Red card tips the Scales as England hammer Ireland
Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, right, and Andrew Moran. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
If Ireland are to dominate without the ball, as Heimir Hallgrímsson visualises as his blueprint, they’ll have to master the basics like fundamental defending first.
Holding England scoreless at half-time, replete with a cast iron penalty claim rejected, offered promise that an upset might materialise in front of almost 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.
Frustrated home fans had resorted to manufacturing and throwing paper aeroplanes for entertainment until another penalty decision swung the contest away from their control.
Harry Kane’s converted spot-kick on 53 minutes – after Liam Scales was sent off – sparked a three-goal deluge over a five-minute spell before substitutes Jarod Bowen and Taylor-Harwood Bellis added a pair four minutes apart later.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s desire for the continuity which flows from a settled selection and formation hasn’t deterred him from plucking a wildcard and it occurred again.
Mark McGuinness would have grown up in Slough wishing to grace Wembley but it was for Ireland instead of England, parachuted into central-defence.
His elevation was designed to free Nathan Collins into midfield, a switch long broached even during the previous reign of Stephen Kenny but only actioned for the final installment of this six-game blitz.
An observation of the teamsheet and warm-up might have indicated the Icelander was reverting to a five-man defensive unit but the position of Collins from the tip-off as the target man of the floated pass confirmed his versatility would be utilised.
Evidently, the threat posed by Jude Bellingham between the lines of midfield and attack prompted the move for solidity and one dividend from what descended into a chastening evening was the value the Brentford man brings to that area.
It was only the dismissal of Scales eight shortly after the restart that Collins resumed his customary position. Like all his colleagues across the backline, they were subjected to a siege that culminated in a mauling not seen since Germany won 6-1 in 2012.
As anticipated, and accepted, by the manager, Ireland ceded possession early, affording wingers Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon scope to raid the flanks.
Still, corners were defended efficiently and Caoimhin Kelleher wasn’t tested. Sadly, the yield from that early rearguard action was rewarded with the penalty they deserved.
A long pass from Dara O’Shea had Marc Guehi scrambling to the extent that he tugged the jersey of Evan Ferguson. Allowing the striker to get the wrong side of him forced the infringement but no whistle came from the Belgian referee.
That Ferguson didn’t take long to bring himself off the turf probably influenced the outcome but replays illustrated a clear foul in the build-up.
Sammie Szmodics also succeeded in ghosting in behind from a Jayson Molumby crossfield delivery shortly after, only for Kyle Walker to recover top stretch and nod the ball back to Jordan Pickford.
Tenacious tackles by Festy Ebosele on Lewis Hall as well as Liam Scales clattering into Kane, both fairly, had the Ireland crowd roused but Kane was fortunate to only incur a booking for hauling the persistent Molumby to the turf as the break approached.
If that opening 45 was promising, the second was alarming. It all went downhill for Ireland when Kane’s diagonal pass freed Bellingham into the penalty area. Scales, on the back foot, used his trailing leg to trip the Real Madrid star as he cut back inside, leading to the penalty decision.
Although Kelleher had saved a penalty on Thursday against Finland, he was unable to repeat the trick against Kane – the English captain stalling before sending the stopper the wrong way with his sidefooted finish.
Scales’s woe was compounded with a second yellow card and the numerical disadvantage precipitated a disintegration of shape.
Debutant Tino Livramento swept past Szmodics too easily on the right to whip in his cross. Confusion between Collins and Josh Cullen had the effect of the ball deflecting perfectly for Anthony Gordon to steer his volley home.
Two became three moments later and indiscipline was magnified. From Noni Madueke’s corner, Guehi was first up to flick on and Conor Gallagher nipped in behind McGuinness at the back post to prod the ball over the line. Bellingham was queuing up to apply the touch too.
Containment applied for Ireland thereafter, that was until they were dissected twice more in the space of five minutes.
Jarrod Bowen had only been introduced as a substitute when he was left unmarked on the edge of the box to drill a shot through a thicket of players beyond Kelleher. Lee Carsley and his assistant Ashley Cole were entitled to rejoice on the touchline at their rehearsed move bearing fruit.
Another substitute, Taylor-Harwood Bellis, became the finalist beneficiary of Ireland being caught square, attacking space between two defenders to connect with a Morgan Rogers cross and head into the bottom corner.
: J Pickford; T Livramento, K Walker, M Guehi, L Hall; C Jones (A Gomes 78), C Gallagher (D Solanke 75); N Madueke (J Bowne 75), J Bellingham, A Gordon (M Rogers 74); H Kane.
: C Kelleher; D O'Shea, M McGuinness, L Scales, C O’Dowda (R Manning 66) ; F Ebosele (F Azaz 66), J Cullen (A Moran 77), N Collins, J Molumby, S Szmodics (K McAteer 88); E Ferguson (T Parrott 66).
: Erik Lambrechts (BEL) Attendance: 79,969.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
