- Ben Blake reports from the Stade de Bordeaux
ROMELU LUKAKU SCORED the first of two goals three minutes into the second half in today’s Euro 2016 Group E game, but seconds before that Ireland were denied a clear penalty.
As Shane Long contested a ball into the box, he was caught in the back of the head by Toby Alderweireld’s boot as the defender attempted to clear.
Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir signalled to play on and Belgium began a counter attack with Kevin De Bruyne, which ended in Lukaku sticking the ball in the back of the net.
Southampton striker Long spoke about the incident after the defeat, and said there is no question it was a foul.
“I can’t really say what I really want to say because I’ll probably get myself in trouble,” said Long.
“It’s just disappointing. Anywhere else on the pitch you might get a free-kick. The fact that they broke and scored as well makes it a little bit harder to take.
“He (the referee) obviously thought there was nothing there. He must have thought I was diving or something. I can’t really say what he was thinking because the pictures speak for themselves.
We’ll move on. It’s a tough result to take at the moment but we’ll approach this Italy game now and we need to win.
“Hopefully they might rest a few players. It’s all or nothing at this stage.”
Long cut a frustrated figure at times as the lone striker in Ireland’s 4-5-1 system before being substituted for Robbie Keane with 12 minutes on the clock.
“It was a tough game,” he adds. “There were a lot of long balls up there and I was trying to throw myself about and was waiting for something to break my way.
“It was always going to be tough once they went 1-0 up as well. They had the two sitting midfielders in front of the centre-backs and we were just trying to catch them in behind.
“I was hoping Wes would get on the ball and slip a pass through, but it didn’t really fall for us in that first half, then it was always going to be tough in the second half once they went ahead.”
Ireland must now beat Group E leaders Italy, who have six points from two games, on Wednesday if they are to progress to the last-16 and Long believes it’s possible.
“I think we can beat them,” he said. “We’ve got a good record against the big teams — obviously not today.
“We’ve got a good history against Italy as well and hopefully they rest a few players. We will go out and try cause an upset.
“It would be amazing to go through after beating Italy on four points. That’s what we have to aim for — nothing less will do.”
Listen to The42′s Ben Blake on the 98FM Euro 2016 Daily podcast throughout the tournament
