Czechia v Ireland: Four talking points after heartbreak in Prague

Ireland took a commanding 2-0 lead at the Fortuna Arena, but then the tide began to turn

HEARTBREAK: Republic of Ireland visibly dejected after their World Cup dreas came crumbling down in the Czech capital. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

1 The high-energy start 

By the end it felt like a lifetime ago but it is still worth remembering such a magnificent start. The tone appeared set when Chiedozie Ogbene forced Ladislav Krejci into conceding a cheap corner inside the first minute. Ireland pressed well and attacked with confidence to give themselves the platform to succeed.

It was direct, energetic and left Czechia rattled. The problem was such intensity could never last 90 minutes, nevermind more than 120.

And so it proved. From minute 46 on what made for delightful viewing became an uncomfortable watch as the hosts, spurred on by being gifted a penalty, took control while several Ireland players were already searching for their second wind.

2 Ogbene inclusion 

Since limping off injured in Budapest, the Corkman has been limited to 21 minutes of action at Sheffield United, struggling for opportunities. Yet the decision to name him in the starting XI was an inspired one - even if the tie was decided after he had departed.

While Krejci scored the late equaliser, the Czechia captain was repeatedly turned inside out by Ogbene, whose speed and directness ensured such a dominant start.

And when it came to Ireland being in desperate need of respite in a difficult and scrappy second half, Ogbene was still the key outlet - earning a corner at the end of a break born from Seamus Coleman’s interception.

DECISIVE: Ladislav Krejčí of Czechia is fouled by Ryan Manning to award the hosts a penalty, and a way back into the contest. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

3 Manning madness decisive, not penalties

Earlier this week Heimir Hallgrimsson said he would not encourage his players to practice penalties, thus creating an obvious excuse for those in need to apparition blame. Except none of the spot kicks were awful. Sure, Finn Azaz may have been able to strike his more firmly but it was on target. And of course the slow-motion replay of Alan Browne's attempt will suggest that he never looked comfortable when lining it up.

Yet it immediately seemed wrong to proclaim those final kicks of the ball as decisive when the moment that changed the game was Ryan Manning's needless, messy and thoughtless shirt pull to offer Patrik Schick the gift of bringing Czechia back into the game. 

That was the real moment Ireland's dreams of a first World Cup died.

4 Lack of depth off bench 

When the home side piled on the pressure and relief became hard to come by, Heimir Hallgrimsson and his coaching staff must have scanned the bench and realised there were very few proven alternatives.

That is the only explanation for just two substitutions in 90 minutes, with another pair following early in the extra-time and two more late on. Those in reserve were mostly a mixture of inexperienced and uninvolved for the club sides.

So while Czechia could introduce Tomas Soucek at the break to change the game, the away team remained reliant on the starting XI who had burnt so many matches in a start that could be marvelled at but ultimately proved costly late on.