Lessons from Lisbon - Ireland find a shape

Ireland's shape and structure against Portugal were a huge improvement on the shambles seen in Yerevan

Sun, 12 Oct, 2025 - 17:11

Paul Kelly

From 5-4-1....

Just as Stephen Kenny used 5-4-1 against France in Dublin to begin Ireland's Euro-2024 qualifying campaign, so Heimir Hallgrimsson deployed a five-man defence to curb Portugal's attack in Lisbon on Saturday night. Despite suffering the same result (0-1), Ireland's shape and structure against Portugal were a huge improvement on the shambles seen in Yerevan last month. "We have shown what an Irish team should be about," Seamus Coleman told Uefa's media channel after the match.

... to 3-4-3

In possession Ireland switched to 3-4-3, but failed to register an attempt on target. Their first pass out of defence often went astray, inviting Portugal to mount a new attack. (They launched 77 in total, compared with Ireland's 7.) Mental fatigue contributed to the concession of Ruben Neves' 91st-minute headed goal. By then, in a switch that will be argued about whenever Ireland substitutions are discussed, Coleman had given way to John Egan, absent from international football since September 2023, with Jake O'Brien moving from right centre-back to right wing-back in the 86th minute.

Yellow peril against Armenia

Six Ireland players are a booking away from missing Portugal's visit to Dublin next month: Caoimhín Kelleher, Nathan Collins, Ryan Manning, Festy Ebosele, Jayson Molumby and Evan Ferguson. Josh Cullen is suspended against Armenia tomorrow night, and with Jason Knight and Bosun Lawal out injured, Hallgrimsson's options in central midfield are limited. Despite losing 0-2 in Budapest on Saturday, Armenia were well organised and they troubled Hungary on the break. Ireland fans have seen this movie before.

Blackpool, Stevenage, Belfast

Northern Ireland's magnificent performance against Slovakia (2-0) at Windsor Park on Friday night was delivered by players who operate at various levels of league football: one each from Liverpool and Crystal Palace, and two from Sunderland. The rest: Blackpool, San Diego FC, Stevenage Town, Swansea City, Preston, Southampton and West Bromwich Albion. The substitutes play for Exeter City, Oxford United and Huddersfield Town. Manager Michael O'Neill used a compact, dynamic 3-5-2 system which left Slovakia breathless.