In a dramatic turn of events on the football field, the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of making it to the Euro 2024 finals have been crushed beneath the might of Greece. In Dublin, the Irish side suffered a deflating 2-0 home defeat that pushed their qualification prospects to the brink.
Greece, who had previously secured a 2-1 victory over the Republic in Group B, managed to pull off another win, thanks to the stellar performances of Giorgos Giakoumakis and Giorgos Masouras, who scored in the first half. This victory allowed the Greeks to leapfrog the Netherlands into second place in the group.
Despite the return of teenage striker Evan Ferguson, who was expected to be a beacon of hope for the Irish side, Stephen Kenny’s men couldn’t change their fortunes, continuing their dismal campaign. So far, Ireland has managed to win only one out of six matches in this qualification round, suffering five losses.
With just two games left in the qualification phase, Ireland finds itself in fourth place among the five teams in the group. They are a significant 15 points behind the group leaders, France, who secured their qualification with a victory over the Netherlands on Friday night. Furthermore, they are trailing the second-placed Greeks by nine points.
Before the match, Kenny had stressed the importance of his players maintaining their belief in the possibility of qualification. However, despite a promising start with a strong opening 10 minutes, during which they came close to scoring twice, Ireland once again delivered a lackluster performance that left their home crowd unhappy.
In the early stages, William Smallbone had a low shot saved, and Brighton’s Ferguson, who had returned after missing two September internationals due to injury, hit the post. However, Greece gradually gained control of the game and took the lead with an excellent goal.
Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas provided a brilliant cross that Giakoumakis met with a powerful header, leaving the Irish goalkeeper with no chance. The second goal came just seconds into the first-half stoppage time when Greece executed a fine counter-attack, capitalizing on a loss of possession by the Republic.
This defeat on Friday night only adds to the mounting pressure on Republic boss Stephen Kenny. His contract with the Football Association of Ireland ends after this campaign, and the governing body may soon have to make a decision about who leads the team in the next Nations League and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Kenny, who took over from Mick McCarthy as senior team boss in April 2020, has faced criticism for his possession-based style of play, which has failed to deliver results. The Republic has won only five of 27 competitive matches under his leadership.
Their only victory in this qualifying campaign came against Gibraltar, following an initial defeat by France in March and a loss to Greece in June. In September, they endured a tough double-header, losing to France and the Netherlands.
In a strong start to the game in front of a sizable crowd at the Aviva Stadium, the Republic had promising moments but ultimately couldn’t capitalize on their early opportunities. Ogbene and Smallbone came close to opening the scoring, but it wasn’t meant to be for the Irish side.
With a crucial game against Gibraltar in Faro and an away match against the Netherlands remaining in the qualification phase, the Republic of Ireland will have to summon all their strength and determination to keep their Euro 2024 hopes alive. As for Stephen Kenny, the future of his tenure as the team’s manager remains uncertain, with mounting calls for a change in leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Euro 2024 Qualification
Q: What were the key moments in the Republic of Ireland’s match against Greece in Euro 2024 qualification?
A: The key moments in the match included Greece’s Giakoumakis scoring a powerful header following a brilliant cross by Tsimikas, and Masouras adding a second goal seconds before halftime with a low finish. Additionally, there were early missed opportunities by the Republic, including Smallbone’s shot saved by Vlachodimos and Ferguson’s attempt that grazed the post.
Q: How has the Republic of Ireland performed in Euro 2024 qualification so far?
A: Ireland’s performance in the Euro 2024 qualification has been disappointing. They have won only one out of their six matches, suffering five losses. This defeat against Greece further dimmed their hopes of making it to the finals.
Q: What’s the current situation for Republic of Ireland’s manager, Stephen Kenny?
A: Stephen Kenny, the Republic of Ireland’s manager, is under increasing pressure. His contract with the Football Association of Ireland ends after this campaign, and there are doubts about his future as the team’s manager. Calls for a change in leadership have been mounting due to the team’s poor results.
Q: Who leads Group B in the Euro 2024 qualification after this match?
A: After defeating the Republic of Ireland, Greece climbed to the second position in Group B, surpassing the Netherlands. However, they are still nine points behind the group leaders, France, who secured their qualification with a victory over the Netherlands on Friday night.
More about Euro 2024 Qualification
- Republic of Ireland Euro 2024 Qualification Campaign
- Stephen Kenny’s Tenure as Ireland Manager
- Greece’s Euro 2024 Qualification
- Euro 2024 Qualification Group B Standings
- Match Report and Highlights
1 comment
whoa! what a match, ireland needs 2 get their act together. kenny’s under fire, need new strategy ASAP.