The new management team at the helm of the Republic – John O’Shea reminded us on the eve of the game that there is only one boss – had promised that the boys in green’s new team would be difficult to beat and overcome, as well as compact and clever.
But Greece, with pride still tainted by their Euro 2024 play-off defeat to Georgia, had a good chance of capitalising when the Irish, despite promising to catch up, backed down and were beaten by two goals in the second half – one early in the half and the other in the last minute.
Both goals could have been avoided with more concentration, but the form Ireland showed in the first period vanished into the night air. A crowd of 37,274 was an impressive number for a midweek game against the Greeks, but with a tough two-legged away fixture next month, the FAI’s accountants can only fear how many spectators will turn up for Finland’s visit in November.
The defeat against England was explained by the sheer class of Lee Carsley’s team, but Greece’s squad of players from the Belgian, German, Turkish and English leagues taught the naive and tame Irish a bitter lesson: players like Christos Tzolis and Manolis Siopis played in a class of their own compared to the home team.
His authority had been questioned in the wake of Saturday’s modest defeat to England, and he had subsequently drawn controversy over his decision to shirk his media duties and hold a press conference on the eve of the match.
But Heimir Hallgrímsson attempted to put his stamp on the team in his second game by making some much-needed changes to the line-up and personnel. Adam Idah, Matt Doherty and the injured Seamus Coleman were forced out and Andrew Omobamidele, Alan Browne and Jason Knight were pushed into the starting line-up.
The back three that had been a trademark of Ireland for four years was put aside and, perhaps as a nod to the past, a back four was put in place. With a back four and a striker in his late 20s, this had all the hallmarks of a Charlton-era side led by John Aldridge, with little width and no obvious target man.
Sammie Szmodics was entrusted with the role of Aldo and asked to do all the hard work of freeing up other players to play and that worked at times. Chiedozie Ogbene grew more confident after a tame opening period and showed his strength just before half-time with a beautiful goal, but it was ruled out for offside.
After a dull first ten minutes, Greece came close when Germany-based defender Konstantinos Koulierakis came in from a corner and won a free kick that went over the bar. They threatened again in the 26th minute, this time from a set piece. Captain Tasos Basaketas was their best player in the two wins against Stephen Kenny’s Ireland in Euro 2024 qualifying, and the Panathinaikos star man tried to make the most of a free kick.
Complicated passing did little to trouble the Greeks, so Ireland, once again looking from the past, often tried to score through long balls. It was a long ball from Jayson Molumby in his own half that gave Ogbene his chance in the 41st minute.
Ogbene was the playmaker just before half-time, working hard down the right and creating a chance with a cross into the box that Alan Browne missed. Browne also failed to capitalise on a pass from Jason Knight midway through the first half after a complicated pass between Ogbene and Szmodics.
Ireland ended the first half with the dubious honour of being the better team in an admittedly boring game, but long-time observers of the Irish team had a nagging fear of the inevitable: a goal from outside the box shortly after the break.
And so it was in the 49th minute when Ioannadis stepped up to score the fifth goal of his 13-cap career. The build-up was beautiful, whether the observer is a Greek fan or just a neutral observer who admires precise passing and patience on the ball, as Greece collected passes from a number of players before Christos Tzolis played the ball to Ioannidis, who took advantage of Dara O’Shea holding back to shoot past a despairing Kelleher.
From then on, Ireland lacked quality in everything they did. This was evident in the 55th minute when a good cross from Szmodics from the right and a very weak header from Knight did not even come close to causing trouble for the under-challenged Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Evan Ferguson’s introduction caused excitement but did nothing to change the course of the game as Greece dominated the match for long periods. With the Irish team lacking width and the Greeks completely dominating central midfield, Ferguson was hardly served. A chance in the 79th minute also went wide, a good pass from Kasey McAteer leading to a panicked and ineffective shot from Will Smallbone. With five minutes to go, substitute Callum Robinson’s shot forced a corner, set up by Browne, but the Greek goal remained intact.
And they had more to offer, their second goal was another gift from Ireland. Browne somehow missed a throw-in when he picked up a ball from Matt Doherty, the Greeks seized their moment, Bakasetas played a ball to Tzolis who easily beat Collins and fired home
IRELAND – Kelleher; Omobamidele (Doherty 74), O’Shea, Collins, Brady; Ogbene (Robinson 84), Browne, Molumby (Ferguson 63); Knight (McAteer 74); Szmoidics (Idah 84), Smallbone.
GREECE – Vlachodimos, Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimkas; Bouchalkis (Pelkas 66), Siopis (Ntoi 88); Tzolis (Vagiannidis 88), Bakasetas, Chatzigiovanis (Zafeiris 66); Ioannidis (Pavlidis 88).
Reference – E Eksas (Norway)
