Norn Iron's Euro 2008 Championship dreams are now over despite a spirited performance last night in Iceland.
Two own goals in two away games will not have helped of course, but ultimately our slip-up in Riga has proved to be the catalyst in our demise. To think that each and every result we have gained so far in this tournament has been purely on merit only to be scuppered by one poor performance and some bad luck.
Respect has to go to the 1,100 or so NI fans that made the trip to Reykjavik to try and create the atmosphere our lads are used to at home. Bar our victory in Licky, it's 12 years since we have won away from home so who did we think we were kidding?
Even a point would have kept a glimmer of hope alive but as in stands we will have to win all our remaining matches and hope other results go our way. If we can't beat Latvia and Iceland away from home then we have no chance of beating Sweden and Spain away. Let's be realistic. Is it just the big teams we can beat because if it is then it just shows we're actually shit when it boils down to what matters. To make it worse, we have no Feeney or Baird for the next match in Sweden as both picked up bookings.
Why Worthers left Craigan out of the squad again is anyone's guess. Why, yet again, did he play Evans at right back and play two right backs in the centre of defence? Evans especially looked out of his depth spending more time mouthing off than playing. Perhaps he knew the outcome before the rest of us. That said, the overall performance was good with Brunt, Feeney and Gillespie pretty much controlling the game for us.
The Iceland opening goal could arguably have been avoided with nobody to intercept in the centre of defence, but Bjornsson's screamer into the roof of the net was unlikely to be saved by any 'keeper. A great goal after only six minutes.
David Healy was largely marginalised for the whole game but was clearly wishing to make an impact. It seems that both Latvia and Iceland had adopted the 'crowding out' approach, seeing Healy consistently obstructed and getting little attention from the referees. A run into the box and subsequent trip saw NI finally awarded a penner, which Healy stepped up to slot home. David Healy is the Euro Championship's all-time highest scorer. Phenomenal.
And so it went on. We pushed forward and created chances but it wasn't to be. A final push by the home side in the last few minutes following a howler of a mistake by Jonah summed up the evening when Gillespie ran the ball into his own net. It was Iceland's first home win under their current boss Eyjólfur Sverrisson so they were delighted.
It's off to Stockholm next month but many will now assume that pride is all there is to play for. We must continue to build on what we have. Who knows what would have happened had Sanchez stayed? It's hypothetical now.
Final Score: Iceland 2 N Ireland 1
Iceland: Arason, Kristjan Orn Sigurdsson, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Ingimarsson, Hreidarsson, Arnason, Vidarsson, Steinsson, Hallfredsson, Thorvaldsson, Bjornsson. Subs: Larusson, Gardarsson, Adalsteinsson, Asgeirsson, Skulason, Gunnarson, Gudjohnsen.
Northern Ireland: Taylor, Baird, Duff, Evans, McCartney, Gillespie, Clingan, Davis, Brunt, Healy, Feeney. Subs: Mannus, Craigan, Elliott, McCann, Jones, Lafferty, Sproule.
Referee: Yuri Baskakov (Russia) |
