The Boys in Green march on the Euros, and will undoubtedly produce their usual rapturous support for the opening Republic of Ireland game in the Stade de France. The Irish national football team will face off against Sweden in the famous Parisian stadium on Monday June 13th, and football fever is gripping Irish sporting fans. Fans in Dublin have already painted their houses in the colours of their national tricolour flag, and thousands will soon begin their journey to France in order to support their team. It promises to be another adventure and party for the fantastic Irish fans.
Republic of Ireland Preview:
Martin O’Neill’s side go into the tournament in the familiar role of underdogs. The Irish have been drawn into a very tough group alongside traditional powerhouse Italy, an Belgium side currently ranked second in the world, and the Zlatan Ibrahimovic-inspired Sweden. This is not unfamiliar territory for the Irish; they arrive for the finals via a tough qualifying campaign (which included a win and a draw against world champions Germany) and an eventual play-off win against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The recent friendly loss against a very ordinary Belarus team, produced a very poor performance from what are seen as the fringe players in the squad. On the evidence of that game, Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane will be depending on a core of about sixteen players (barring injuries) out of the the official squad in order to sustain the Irish challenge
The Irish team boasts no genuine superstar players, what they lack in individual brilliance, they compensate for with work rate, and a fervent passion for the national jersey. The playing squad includes no players from a top four club in the English Premier League, and also includes ageing stalwarts who are entering the twilight of their careers such as John O’Shea, Robbie Keane and Shay Given.
The emergence of Shane Long as a dangerous international forward and the set-piece expertise of Robbie Brady, will cause problems for opposing teams. O’Neill’s midfield is usually based on defensive toughness and work rate, with the industrious duo of Glen Whelan and James McCarthy in the engine room.
Ireland also possess potential x-factors in the skillful play-maker Wes Hoolahan and the legendary poacher Robbie Keane, who are both expected to make impacts in games when coming from the bench. It is in the defensive spine that the Irish are at their weakest with the aging O’Shea lacking the pace needed to contain speedy opponents like Eden Hazard and the big game inexperience of West Ham’s back up goalkeeper, Darren Randolph both seen as potential concerns.
Customary passionate support from the Irish fans will provide a twelfth man for this Irish team. Realistic progress would be to improve upon the disappointment of losing every game in Euro 2012. Of course the dream for the Irish team and their fans would be a repeat of the shock past successes in this competition of underdogs such as Denmark and Greece. For the opening game against Sweden the result will be crucial, the Republic of Ireland need to take some points from that game in order to have any realistic hope of advancing beyond the group stage. The legendary combative nature of Ireland’s assistant coach Roy Keane combined with the experience of head coach Martin O’Neill, plus the wonderful Irish fans, should ensure that the team in green will be well drilled, competitive and tough to beat.
