Ireland 1-2 Netherlands
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
With Ireland having lost three out of their opening four games, another defeat this evening and the Euros dream will be effectively over, if not mathematically.
Even a draw will leave the Boys in Green in a very difficult position, so it feels as if a win is the only result that will do for Stephen Kenny.
It’s 19 years since Ireland last beat the Dutch while the last competitive victory was the famous win 22 years ago against a Louis van Gaal-managed side.
Repeating those feats would certainly be the greatest moment of Kenny’s reign so far, while a defeat would arguably be the worst, given the deeper ramifications.
There’s a lot at stake on what promises to be a fascinating night at the Aviva.
Here’s the Irish team for tonight…
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗫𝗜 | Ireland v Netherlands
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 10, 2023
Matt Doherty & James McClean come into the starting line-up as Alan Browne shifts into midfield with an unchanged front-three 🇮🇪
Huge night at the Aviva, get behind the team, 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 💚 pic.twitter.com/ljcEb2LaAr
And here is the Netherlands team…
This is the 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐞 𝐗𝐈! 🦁#NothingLikeOranje #IRLNED pic.twitter.com/gZcvbGUom2
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) September 10, 2023
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
Some pre-match reading for you…
- The Irishman with the second-most appearances in English Football ever
- ‘It is absolutely our ambition to qualify. We’ve built a team to qualify’
- Do you agree with our Ireland team to face Netherlands?
- Stephen Kenny aiming for ‘best victory yet’ as Dutch come to Dublin
- Do you agree with our Ireland team to face Netherlands?
- ‘I’d never be allowed back now if I got that close again’
- 4 things Ireland must do to pull off ‘performance of their lives’ against Netherlands
Dublin = 𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗝𝗘! 🤯🧡 #NothingLikeOranje #IRLNED pic.twitter.com/DpSzbhVAd2
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) September 10, 2023
We’re underway…
PENALTY TO IRELAND!
IRELAND 1-0 NETHERLANDS (IDAH 4)
What an incredible start!
Huge chance for Ireland early on.
The Dutch get caught trying to play out for the back.
Browne wins the ball, it falls to Idah who plays it to Ogbene whose shot is deflected out for a corner.
The ensuing set piece comes off the hand of Van Dijk via a slight touch on Egan’s head.
The referee points to the spot and Idah duly sends the goalkeeper the wrong way.
The crowd are really up for this, making their voices heard and they’ve obviously been given a massive lift by that early goal.
It’s been fairly scrappy since then, with both sides giving it away cheaply.
Dumfries is currently down and receiving treatment following a late challenge from McClean.
Doherty finds space on the right but his attempted cross is blocked out for a corner by Ake.
The Wolves man has started brightly.
Half-chance for Ireland.
A great cross by Ogbene finds Browne, whose goalbound header is blocked by a Dutch defender.
Wieffer has just received the game’s first booking.
It was a cynical challenge as he took down Knight while Ireland were attempting to counter-attack from a Dutch corner.
Moments later, Browne puts an inviting ball in that Flekken claims.
PENALTY TO NETHERLANDS!
Dumfries is played through on goal and Bazunu takes him down for the penalty.
The goalkeeper is a tad fortunate to only receive a yellow.
IRELAND 1-1 NETHERLANDS (GAPKO 19)
Bazunu gets a hand to the penalty but can’t keep Gapko’s effort out.
It’s disappointing from an Irish perspective, particularly given that it was an avoidable penalty to concede.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
1-0 Ireland thanks to Adam Idah's very cool penalty kick
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 10, 2023
📱Updates 👉https://https://t.co/gBpTFIZp2L
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The Dutch go close again!
Malen speeds towards goal away from the Irish defenders but Bazunu gets down well to make the save.
Here’s a look at the equaliser…
The visitors are on level terms as Cody Gakpo converts a penalty after Gavin Bazunu fouled Denzel Dumfries
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 10, 2023
📱Updates 👉https://https://t.co/gBpTFIZp2L
📺 Watch 👉 @RTE2 & @RTEplayer https://t.co/2W5kFtUgZE
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Another nervy moment for the Dutch.
Idah and Van Dijk chase Knight’s inviting through ball.
The Norwich man appears to win the ball but the ref awards a free kick.
Decent attempt by Browne from the free-kick but it goes just wide.
Moments later, Browne wins it again as they try to play out from the back.
Idah then passes to Ogbene, whose shot is deflected out for a corner.
The Dutch are finding it difficult to play out from the back.
Knight is the latest to intercept an attempted Van Dijk pass.
It’s been scrappy the last few minutes but Ireland are well in this game.
The Dutch look nervy every time they have to defend.
Decent chance for the Dutch.
Malen finds himself in acres of space and drives towards goal before his low shot is saved via the foot of Bazunu.
Meanwhile, Ogbene has just been booked for impeding the run of Ake.
The Irish players are starting to look a little tired following an exhilarating first half.
A move breaks down after Nathan Collins attempted pass goes straight out of play.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 1-1 NETHERLANDS
So half-time and a pretty encouraging performance overall from an Irish perspective.
Their press is causing the Dutch defence real problems and the visitors have had several nervy moments at the back.
However, Ireland will also rue how easily they let their opponents back into the game.
Doherty gave the ball away initially with Denzel Dumfries running past McClean while a deep-lying Duffy played the Inter star onside as Ireland got their defensive line completely wrong and Bazunu took the attacker down.
The hosts have just come off the back of a tiring French game on Thursday, so there two things are key in the second half — whether Ireland can physically maintain the intensity of the first and how well Stephen Kenny uses his bench.
Ireland need a win to realistically keep their qualification hopes alive so it would be no surprise to see the likes of Aaron Connolly, Will Smallbone and possibly evening the lightning quick Festy Ebosele at some stage.
Netherlands make two changes at the break.
Weghorst and Reijnders are on.
Blind and Wieffer are off.
The second half has begun…
The Netherlands have been controlling the play so far.
Ireland did have one promising moment as Collins burst forward but needed to release Ogbene quicker and he was ultimately dispossessed.
Browne makes a vital interception to stop a cross falling to Simons from which he would have had a simple finish.
The Preston star is having a terrific game.
NETHERLANDS 2-1 IRELAND (WEGHORST 56)
De Jong chipped a ball through for Dumfries, whose header across goal is converted by former Man United man Weghorst.
Ireland were hoping for offside but looking at replays, it’s Duffy again who is caught too deep and playing Dumfries on.
Here’s a look at the second Dutch goal.
Dutch lead 2-1. A simple enough goal. Dumfries heads the ball across goal and Weghorst steers home
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 10, 2023
📱Updates 👉https://https://t.co/gBpTFIZp2L
📺 Watch 👉 @RTE2 & @RTEplayer https://t.co/2W5kFtUgZE
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Ireland are starting to look a little tired and low on morale now.
The influential Dumfries puts in a dangerous low cross that’s cleared by Duffy.
Ireland make their first change.
McClean, who was tiring, is replaced, and it’s a rare enough appearance for Ryan Manning.
Penalty appeals as Ogbene goes down in the area under a challenge from Van Dijk.
Looking at the replay, it would have been very soft to award it.
Ireland get a free kick in a promising position, but it’s frustratingly overhit by Browne.
We’re entering a final 20 minutes, a period of time that will surely be among the most pivotal of the Stephen Kenny era.
Meanwhile, another Netherlands change sees Malen replaced by Koopmeiners.
And 49,807 has been announced as the official attendance.
Two more changes for Ireland
Egan and Browne are off.
McGrath and Smallbone are on.
Doherty finds himself in a good position but it’s badly overhit.
It’s been all too comfortable for the Dutch in the last few minutes.
Reijnders is currently down and receiving treatment after a collision with Duffy.
Just over 10 minutes of normal time for Ireland to effectively save their campaign.
Another change for Netherlands.
Gapko is replaced by Noa Lang.
Ireland continue to probe without really creating a clear-cut chance.
The game is becoming very open now.
Ireland are throwing bodies forward and look vulnerable on the counter.
As I type, Manning’s cross goes straight into Flekken’s arms.
More changes for Ireland.
Doherty and Knight are replaced by Ebosele and debutant Armstrong.
Duffy is penalised for a foul as he goes up to try to win a header.
As far as late rallies go, this has been a little underwhelming from Ireland so far.
Another Dutch change sees Simons replaced by Berghuis.
Five minutes of stoppage time will be played…
Jason Knight has been named Ireland’s man of the match.
He certainly produced his customary, energetic performance and epitomised what was good about Ireland, especially in the first half.
A hopeful kick up the field by Bazunu goes straight out of play.
Not looking great for Ireland.
FULL-TIME: IRELAND 1-2 NETHERLANDS
So that’s that.
It started with a bang but ended with a whimper.
Ireland started superbly and had the Dutch on the ropes for a considerable portion of the first half.
However, the opening 45 minutes took too much out of them seemingly, as the hosts could not reproduce the same intensity after the break.
The Dutch increasingly controlled the game and ultimately saw it out comfortably.
It means hopes of qualifying for the Euros via the group are now effectively over, while questions will surely be asked of under-pressure manager Stephen Kenny’s future.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to follow on the site shortly.
