Nothing summed up Ireland’s frustration on Saturday quite like the sight of Shane Long slapping his thighs in exasperation after another long ball was lumped in his general direction and cleaned up by Belgium.
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The Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 bubble was well and truly popped at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaaux thanks to a second-half double from striker Romelu Lukaku and a pin-point header from Axel Witsel.
The victory of the world’s second-ranked team was in stark contrast to their limp defeat in their opening Euro 2016 match against Italy.
Ireland struggled to get back into the game as Belgium comfortably saw out the match to claim all three points. Two goals from Lukaku and one goal from Witsel have kept Belgium 3-0 ahead against Ireland.
Belgium exposed a huge gap in class with the Republic of Ireland to easily defeat them 3-0 in their European Nations clash in Marseilles.
Belgium plays Sweden next while Ireland meets Italy, which has now won the group.
Wes Hoolahan cleared Vertonghen’s header off the line, before the Tottenham defender hooked another poorly-dealt with corner over the bar, but Ireland went into the break with a comfortable look about them while Belgium showed signs of frustration.
I know I’m being harsh, and I want to give him a six, but the tackle he has made when it was 2-0 on Hazard and they’ve cut right through the defence; I think he’s dived in and should have stayed on his feet.
Belgium’s victory in the Group E match in Bordeaux on Saturday came as its much-vaunted attack finally sprang to life after wasting a series of chances in the first half.
“Well, after four years of success, when we get criticism it’s like those last four years disappear”, said Wilmots after his side’s convincing win over Ireland.
Kevin De Bruyne is clearly instrumental to their hopes but despite him being afforded too much time and space by Ireland it wasn’t until the second half their front four began to click.
The third goal showcased the speed and counter-attacking ability of the Belgium team.
“Belgium are a good team but we still have a big chance against Italy”, Ireland captain John O’Shea said.
“They pushed us back in the first half and a few days against Sweden we played exceptionally well with the ball, today when we had it we loomed a bit nervous and gave it away a bit readily”. “We’ve a game to win and we’re going to throw everything into trying to do that”.
O’Neill said: “All I do know is what we have to try to do ourselves – we have to try to win the game and that can be our only thought”.
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“What’s important is the team’s mentality”, he said through a translator.
