It was another dismal defeat for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday. The second game of the Hallgrímsson era ended in a 2-0 defeat, just like the first one. Ireland's Nations League campaign is in tatters after a fourth consecutive defeat in a competitive match at home.
The optimism of a new era is gone. The rebuilding job on the hands of Ireland's Icelandic manager seems vast and set to run far longer than his short contract.
Ireland were better Tuesday but ultimately undone by old failings in marking players outside the box for the first goal, and a curious lack of application for the second.
Speaking to RTÉ afterwards, Ireland captain Nathan Collins said he was more upset with the first goal Ireland conceded than the second one, and that's fair enough. Ireland have conceded far too many from that part of the pitch in the past four years.
However the second goal will particularly rankle Irish supporters.
Stephen Kelly on Matt Doherty's performance
It came minutes after Callum Robinson and Adam Idah had been introduced, as Ireland prepared to throw the kitchen sink at the Greece defence in order to claim an equaliser.
Matt Doherty lost his man as Greece attacked from a throw-in, and then casually jogged back as Tzolis swivelled around Collins to score Greece's second goal.
🇮🇪 0-2 🇬🇷: That's game over for Ireland and it's far too easy for Greece as Tzolis chases down a simple ball over the top from Bakasetas before firing home.
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📻Listen: https://t.co/VgaQpwGjHu pic.twitter.com/7PHTOnsPI3— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 10, 2024
After starting the game against England, Doherty was named on the bench tonight. He was introduced on the 74 minute mark to a smattering of boos. This was one of the most disappointing moments of a solid Ireland career.
On RTÉ's analysis after the game, Stephen Kelly - who is one of the more affable pundits out there, and not someone who courts controversy - was strongly critical of Doherty for his role in the goal.
This is awful. This is awful. Matt Doherty is tracking his runner and he just stops.
What’s worse about it is the jog back.
You cannot legislate for a player jogging.
And it’s just a run. The ball bounces up. Tzolis heads it into the air. Collins is trying his best to get back but done by a chop but if Matt Doherty runs back, sprints back in, he’ll probably recovers it.
Like I said, you can’t legislate for it. That’s got nothing to do with the forward changes. That’s got nothing to do with the positional changes. That’s just a lack of….I don’t know…he switches off? He doesn’t think he can get there? I don’t understand what the concept is. Just sprint. And there’s no excuse. You’re fresh onto the pitch. Matt has not played the whole game. He’s in a position where he should be able to sprint back in and see that danger and get back in and cover.
You make that mistake initially, but you think what I can do to get back in here. Sprinting is the basics of football. I don’t know what you do with that.
RTÉ soccer analyst Stephen Kelly was highly critical of Matt Doherty's defending for the second Greek goal in Ireland's 2-0 defeat at the Aviva Stadium. #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/ZrqMNYdtGn
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 10, 2024
Kelly did not take any enjoyment in stating this but it needed to be said. Ireland are in a world of pain, but in the very least, Hallgrímsson needs players who are willing to apply themselves. It will be interesting to see what role Doherty has next time month when the new manager has a bigger say in the squad.
SEE ALSO: Ireland Player Ratings As Greece Pile On The Misery On Wretched Aviva Night
