Czechia v Ireland TV review: nervous pundits and selfies with Ronnie

The Boys in Green saw their campaign come to an end in Prague on Thursday night. 

Ireland players after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final defeat. Pic:  Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Television and radio coverage of the Republic of Ireland’s FIFA World Cup play-off qualifier semi-final loss to Czechia began with nervous tension and ended in penalty shootout despair.

40 years to the day since Jack Charlton’s first match in charge of the Republic of Ireland and current manager Heimir Hallgrímsson suffered a heartbreaking World Cup qualification exit.