Five things we learned from Ireland's latest flop against Ukraine
Ireland fired blanks again as Ukraine won 1-0 at the Aviva Stadium.
Nathan Collins of Republic of Ireland reacts during the UEFA Nations League League B Group 1 match between Republic of Ireland and Ukraine at Aviva Stadium. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Ireland fired blanks again as Ukraine won 1-0 at the Aviva Stadium in a UEFA Nations League clash - here are five things we learned.
1 - We just got another lesson that Ireland cannot break down teams who sit back and see what we’ve got. Because the word is clearly out in international football that we haven’t got a lot. Yet again, we failed to win a competitive home game. This Nations League is against countries ranked around us. How are we going to qualify for Euro 2024 when there will be two countries ranked ahead of us in the group.
2 - Stephen Kenny just has to make changes, quite a few of them, for Scotland on Saturday. He cannot keep players away from the beaches in the Algarve or Greece and give them no start in what is a four-match mini-tournament. Mark Travers, Dara O’Shea, Alan Browne, Michael Obafemi and Will Keane will be wondering why they are not on holidays if they are not playing against the Jocks after back-to-back defeats.
3 - Stephen Kenny must explain to us why Robbie Keane is not in his back-room team. It is not right that Robbie, our greatest goalscorer is on the FAI payroll, but not used by the manager when we can’t score a goal. Surely Robbie could coach Callum Robinson in the matter of staying onside. Robinson wandered offside time and again against Ukraine.
4 - Nathan Collins has a big future with Ireland. He’s making a few rookie mistakes in these games, but they will soon cease and the Burnley man has all the makings of a top-notch international defender. He really needs a move back into the Premier League during the summer, however, playing at Championship level will not serve his career growth well.
5 - Jason Knight is another man who needs a summer move upwards in English football. He was one of Ireland’s best against Ukraine, showing an attacking quality that was not in evidence in Yerevan last Saturday. But playing in League One with Derby County is not where he needs to be next season. Jason is better than that.
Today's Headlines
'MILF' | Kerry Katona shares topless photo of husband as she calls him ‘the most beautiful soul’
'mistake' | Micheal Martin says Sinn Fein ‘cannot ride two horses’ when it comes to NI’s troubled past
SHOUTING ABUSE | Man (43) was pepper-sprayed after lunging at gardai with ‘fists clenched’
FIREARM CHARGE | Gangster Robert ‘Roo’ Redmond pleads guilty to possession of sub-machine gun
Proud Dad | Westlife star Mark Feehily shares sweet Pride post with daughter from hospital
Big achievement | Influencer and single mum Aoife Walsh says she is ‘so proud’ as she buys her first home
Glove Island | Shelbourne FC goalkeeper Scott Van-der-Sluis tipped to enter Love Island
sentence hearing | Hutch cousin needed money for drugs when he stabbed doctor seven times with scissors
Full circle | Comedy and music duo ‘The 2 Johnnies’ appear in Leaving Certificate English paper
heroin drought | Dublin Councillor fears a spike in heroin-related violence after Taliban cull