Last night's France v Ireland game dealt Ireland's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 yet another blow.
With just three points from our opening four games, nothing short of a miraculous string of fortune and luck will be enough to see Stephen Kenny's side take part in next summer's tournament.
While few could have expected anything other than a defeat for Ireland at the hands of the World Cup runners up, it was another goal conceded from distance which got people talking.
READ HERE: Ireland Player Ratings As Lacklustre France Loss Heaps Further Pressure On Kenny
Ireland v France - Another goal conceded from a long-range strike
After holding France off for the best part of 18 minutes, this wonder strike from Aurelien Tchoumeni opened the scoring for Les Bleus.
🇫🇷 1-0 🇮🇪
A majestic strike from Aurelien Tchouameni breaks the deadlock in Paris
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📻 Listen @GameOn2FM https://t.co/QHSJNYlfx8 pic.twitter.com/0K8bsgfUX7— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 7, 2023
For many other sides, little would be said about conceding a world-class finish from a Real Madrid star, but Tchouameni's strike was the 11th time Ireland has conceded from outside the box since 2021.
READ HERE: Richie Sadlier's RTÉ Comments Perfectly Sum Up Why Stephen Kenny Era Is Unravelling
After Gavin Bazunu conceded two long range goals at the weekend to Sunderland, it was hoped Ireland would be prepared to thwart long range attempts at goal. Instead, we were again undone by a blast from outside the box.
Ireland blasted for a worrying record of conceding from distance as France v Ireland produced another
While the leaking of goals from outside the box could be put down to misfortune, the frequency of the problem now goes beyond 'unlucky'. That's according to Richard Dunne and Damien Delaney.
The former Ireland defenders questioned the side's defensive shape after last night's game, with Richard Dunne claiming that it's a 'failure'.
Speaking in the Virgin Media studio after the game, Dunne said.
It's something that just keeps happening. It's a failure in the organisation of the defensive side of the team.
Damien Delaney echoed Dunne's views.
There's something fundamentally wrong. You can look at it and say 'Have the centre backs dropped off too much, that has dragged the two defensive midfield players with them?' If we can hold a higher line, the two defensive midfield players, Cullen and Molumby, will be five or ten yards further forward and they'll be able to get contact on this. But, if the centre backs sync all the way into the six-yard box, it means you've two number 6s who are going to be dragged all the way onto the penalty spot. When players get the ball on the edge of the box, they've time, space, they feel comfortable, they're not rushed. We need to start from a coaching point, we need to start looking at 'Why are teams getting so many shots from us at the edge of our box?' Is it that reason or is it another one, but it has to be addressed because it's happening so often now that teams have obviously clocked it and figured it out and they're setting up for that.
Despite Stephen Kenny seeming to answer questions in almost every press conference on the amount of long range strikes conceded, Richard Dunne thinks he still hasn't addressed the worrying trend.
It hasn't been (addressed). I think before the France game at home people were speaking about it and it wasn't addressed and Pavard scored from distance. When it was brought up this week in a press conference, he said 'Well it has not happened us in months' and then he was reminded about Pavard and that they've not played for months. It keeps happening in every single game and it is a problem.
Ireland conceded 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 goal from outside the box tonight. Richard Dunne & Damien Delaney don't believe it's not just bad luck why it keeps happening.
"It's a failure in the organisation of the defensive side of the team."#FRAIRL #COYBIG #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/BL4VLnxZzN
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 7, 2023
With The Netherlands coming to the capital on Sunday, there's unlikely to be a quick fix to ending this succession of goals from distance. Ireland know that if they are to keep their hopes of qualification alive, a mammoth performance against the Dutch is a must.
SEE ALSO: Damien Delaney Feels Stephen Kenny's Own Words Are Now Coming Back To Bite Him
