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Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Critical Erasmus Year for Munster Rugby
It was a bleak message from Philip Browne, CEO of the Irish Rugby Football Union in terms of Munster Rugby’s finances. The war chest a long way from a number of years ago were the region was in its full splendour. It was made even starker when the head of Irish rugby said there were no more bail outs should the region be unable to meet its obligations as they stand now. Indeed, the Honorary Treasurer, Tom Grace, explained matters further;
“One of our provinces is experiencing financial difficulty and one of the main reasons for this is poor match results,” said IRFU honorary treasurer Tom Grace. “It is no secret that the increased revenues available to French and English clubs are having a serious inflationary impact on player remuneration.”
“There was no repayment received this year in respect of the Munster loan which relates to Thomond Park,” said Grace. “A €200,000 payment was due last April with €4.2 million due in April 2017 and €500,000 to be paid every year until 2026 with a final lump sum of €761,778 expected in 2027.” A stark message it has to be said. But perhaps no greater motivation than having the financial nitty-gritty aired publicly to alert all involved that the cub is currently on life support.
What remains clear is that Munster face a challenge and marginally improved by securing Champions Cup place for the new season. Albeit a group with Racing 92, this year’s losing finalists, Leicester Tigers, semi-finalists in May and Glasgow, the losing semi-finalists to Connacht in the Guinness Pro 12 last season. A sobering set of fixtures that wouldn’t lighten the heart of the Munster Rugby CEO when making the budget forecast for the season. And along way from the natural order in the days when they ruled Europe in 2006.
But some fixed costs can’t be reduced and that pressure increased with the arrival of Rassie Erasmus; the return of Darren O’Shea and the new signing Jean Kleyn on a three-year contract. The 22-year-old has made 17 appearances for the Stormers and represented Western Province on 22 occasions. Kleyn will re-join his former Defence Coach Jacques Nienaber who has also been recruited by Munster this year. U few heavy bills there no doubt on the back of a very poor season that saw Thomond Park filled very rarely.
Critical to any operation is that the current costs are met of operating income, and the investment rationalised by equalling gate income accordingly. Or financial support from sponsorship programmes or other revenue streams. But not only does Munster Rugby need to manage their operational costs but also have to accrue for the payment of €220k due to the IRFU. Along with another €4.25m due to the IRFU next April. All to be achieved through rugby income given there are no further grants or payments to be accessed. A very tough task and one that - looking on from the outside - spells danger.
Or could create an environment that will only add further pressure on Erasmus and company to deliver much needed silverware this season in the Champions Cup. However, the stark reality is that no bonuses are earned until quarterfinal and semi-finals Unlike the UEFA Champions League where reaching knockout stage delivers €1.5m. Or as Dundalk FC have seen on reaching the play-off’s was worth 7m this season – and a place in the Europa League. Even having just failed to get into the Champions League proper.
The IRFU are the central purse holders for rugby in Ireland and in the past have benefited from a disproportionate distribution of income given the nation’s size, a positive perhaps from the International Rugby Board [IRB] settling in Dublin. The financial bonus despite that the Irish TV market contributes only €5 million per annum to the central pot (c.€3m to the Six Nations pot and c.€2 million to the ERC pot). The figure shows the other TV markets contribute much more. Yet the IRFU therefore receives €16 million each year from the central pot (c.€11m from Six Nations and c.€5m from ERC). This constitutes about 24% of the IRFU's total annual turnover.
The latter though changes somewhat with the establishment of new European Rugby Champions Cup, now based in Switzerland. Really the love child in effect of Premiership Rugby and the Ligue Nacional de Rugby in France. In effect addressing those imbalances prevalent with the Heineken Cup and the ERC [ European Rugby Cup]. The losers in the revamp have been the Irish clubs as the other nations became fatigued with Ireland’s domination of the Heineken - winning it five times in seven years. Coupled with a Grand Slam in 2009. But to the victors go the spoils. Or so it was.
But from 2012 the unrest saw the English clubs agree a TV deal with new upstart, BT Sport, that, and that opened the way for an alternative broadcast route for English and French rugby and staged a breakaway in 2014. The changes impacted Irish rugby at a number of levels and coincided with a loss of dominance in the competition by both Leinster and Munster. A trend though which has now seen no Irish team reach the final since 2012 with French and English clubs now dominating that fixture. The current Champions Saracens being losing finalist on previous occasions.
Now the Premiership announced the salary cap would be raised from £5.5 million to £6.5 million in the 2016-17 season and £7 million the following year. Accounting for two marquee players who would be excluded from the cap along with home-grown player credits, compensation for missing England players and a fund to cover long-term injured players, some clubs will be able to spend upwards of £9 million. That has led to a spate of eye-catching signings. Bath, who are interested in South Africa scrum half Fourie Du Preez, have recruited Wales pair Luke Charteris and Taulupe Faletau; Leicester have snapped up the Australia centre Matt Toomua; and, perhaps most strikingly of all, Northampton have persuaded Louis Picamoles, the France No 8, to leave Top 14 Toulouse. However, not every club spends up to – and in certain cases nowhere near – that salary cap.
There are fears that while the increased spending power will narrow the gap with French clubs, the Premiership will come to be divided between the haves and have‑nots. Given that Leicester, Northampton and Saracens have qualified for the play-offs for the past six seasons, that divide is already partly established. But for a league that prides itself on its competitiveness the idea of a two tier game - such as exists in the football Premier League -will be deeply uncomfortable. Saracens are unlikely to be perturbed, especially since they boast Europe’s only perfect record this season. The signing of Schalke Burger only making them more formidable. But then that was exactly what Munster did in their heyday.
In terms of income the distribution of EPCR’s revenues will be made on the basis of an equal three-way split to the Top 14, Premiership Rugby and Prowl teams. But for the second year in succession, Munster failed to emerge from the pool stages and former player Alan Quinlan was forthright in his analysis on their as final game this season in the tournament:
“Embarrassing, humiliating, disgraceful, these are words that spring to mind,” he told Sky Sports viewers. “Munster have no divine right to win these games…It’s embarrassing. This whole organisation needs to be dissected.”
“Guys falling off tackles, no desire, no shape, it’s very distressing to watch. Borderline disgraceful, disgraceful might be a bit too strong. When guys are falling off tackles and walking around, it’s frustrating and a real worry...There’s no attack whatsoever.”
So Rassie Erasmus has a big job ahead. With the players in the squad he can win games. Or more accurately, he must win games. Then winning could get them closer to silverware so that by April the club are better placed to address the payments that come due. If not, then the burden of expanding Thomond Park and the investment in the club may prove their biggest opponent. In that sense Philip Browne’s words are only stark but understandable.
But perhaps inevitable and prophetic.
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Tuesday, 28 June 2016
The Ice Man Cometh for England #ENGICE
Not so long ago Chris Coleman had to leave the Larrisa club in Greece due to a lack of money, a move that followed his sacking at Coventry City, who hired him when he walked out of Real Sociedad in San Sebastian. A departure that was of his own making and seemingly rejecting an ideal place to rehabilitate his reputation after a number of seasons at Fulham came to an end. A club where he was a successful player and looked the ideal candidate to become a coach - following a serious injury that ended his playing days. On replacing Jean Tigana he showed some talent in management in his season. But then was faced with the exit door when the Craven Cottage dreams could not be fulfilled, in his view, as the club sold key players. Today he stands on the brink of history with Wales now the only home nation to make it to the EURO 2016 quarterfinals and his reputation more than rehabilitated.
In contrast Vicente del Bosque returns to Spain with his future in doubt, having said pre-tournament anyway that he was unlikely to continue much further. So the Royal Spanish Football Federation now have little choice but to close that option as they also departed France 2016 relinquishing their eight year hold on the EURO Trophy first seized in Vienna. For a while Del Bosque continued the magic Luis Aragones first sparked in Austria and Switzerland in 2008. But Spain have reached the end of that cycle it seems and now a search for a replacement will soon begin no doubt. The inept performance by Spain in Brazil in 2014 also casting a shadow heralding the end of Spain’s Barca football production line - for the moment. Despite topping their qualifying group unbeaten they failed to fire once again in a major tournament. A sharp contrast to their hunger in South Africa at the World Cup in 2010 which was followed by the Euro 2012 demolition of Italy in the final.
Iceland’s defeat of England secured the only possible career move for Roy Hodgson. Who read out a statement confirming his retirement as the match in Nice barely ended. Equalling the speed of Kevin Keegan resignation in the Wembley toilets after a home defeat by Germany in a 2002 World Cup qualifier. The result compounding another timid appearance at the 2000 EURO in Holland and Belgium where defeats to Portugal and Romania precluded passage to the knock out stages for England. The sputtering performance at Wembley forcing the passionate and honest Keegan to hand in the keys early to the FA and walking out of the England job he loved. In Nice Hodgson did something similar after a nation of 330,000 ended the unrealistic aspirations of England followers once again, who are now seeing another chance to repeat 1966 pass them by. The names of who might replace Hodgson now ringing in the air and proving the major debating point in the wake of the defeat. Apart from more comedic asides arising as the likes of Alan Shearer declare a possible interest.
The logical thinking is that the Football Association have a structure in place. One that over the years has tried to cultivate potential candidates over the long term with Trevor Brooking and Stuart Pearce amongst those earliest on the shop floor fulfilling interim roles on occasion. Albeit Pearce failed with his underage charges in his time and was pushed off the ladder of candidates. With his former teammate at EURO 1996, Gareth Southgate, the main name currently the mix for the Russia 2018 campaign. We say logical if the FA are to back their own system and development structure. Especially with other English candidates few and far between. Though the FA also have a penchant for highly paid foreigners such as Fabio Capello and Sven Goran Ericsson.
As always though it is the incumbent manager that pays the ultimate price regardless of circumstances. Or whether the overpaid players failed to perform. In Nice the latter was definitely the case and the suitability of Gary Neville to management is now also in smithereens as from the bench alongside Hodgson he proved an unviable alternative. With his term at Valencia earlier this year not bolstering his CV either and undoubtable proof that punditry is easier than life in the real world.
Amidst the mayhem a few issue stands out as bizarre. One of the first is that a coach like Paul Clement, who has just re-joined Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich seems to offer no appeal to the England set up. Yet he has been with Ancelotti at Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid with league titles and Champions League medals under his belt. Always operating at the toughest of levels and having to deal with some of the highest paid talent in the world. That accumulated expertise and skill one would imagine to be invaluable to any national football federation. Particularly one struggling to deliver results at the highest levels such as the FA. Whether as a coach or an adviser surely Clement has something to offer England football.
More so if one looks at the supposed minnow nations relying on their own former players such as Michael O’Neil at Northern Ireland, Martin O’Neill with the Republic of Ireland or Chris Coleman. All proving very effective operators among the elite nations with supposedly lesser talented sides than England. Or, more accurately, more non-Premier League players. Ironcially, none of whom would have ever figured an FA list of possible candidates to manage England.As with Iceland's manager Lars Lagerbeck, who ensured that his own CV continues to show no defeats by any England teams in 6 or more major tournaments. In a career spanning time with Sweden, Nigeria and now Iceland.
However, Hodgson is part of a long list of England managers who arrived with excellent CV’s and found nothing but failure managing the national team. All unable to replicate the feats of Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966 or indeed 1970. Except for the late Bobby Robson who took England to a semi-final with Germany at Italia 1990 only to lose out in the penalty shootout. Or Terry Venables in 1996 who squeezed past Spain on penalties in the quarterfinal only to stumble at the seminal stage to Germany once again - on penalties. That German resilience always apparent in major tournaments with them finally exercising their own demons in Brazil two years ago with a Mario Götze goal that ended the dreams of Lionel Messi and Argentina. Spain also did the same in 2008, 2010 and 2012, as have France in 1998 and 2000; with Italy winning the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
In fact, of the major football nations England’s over expectant ambitions remain unfulfilled on the world stage and as consequence of poor play now exit left in France without any willingness to analyse the fundamental problems at player level which seem to preclude any success. Bizarrely Southgate was not part of England’s original travelling party to Euro 2016 but he did undertake various scouting missions on opponents during the tournament. Hopefully one of them was not Iceland. Or someone forgot to read his notes. Although not an official member of the coaching staff there were late moves to make him part of the England set-up.
For some within the FA the former Middlesbrough manager is already a favourite and improved his reputation by leading the England Under 21s to victory in the Toulon U-21 Tournament final earlier in the month – also beating the host nation France.
For the moment though Roy Hodgson joins a rogue’s gallery alongside Steve McClaren, Graham Taylor, Fabio Capello, Glen Hoddle, Peter Taylor, Howard Wilkinson, Kevin Keegan, Stuart Pearce, and Sven Goran Eriksson. Not forgetting those who were refused the chance like Brian Clough, Harry Redknapp or Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Another fine mess!
OSM - All rights reserved
The Ice Man Cometh for England #ENGICE
Not so long ago Chris Coleman had to leave the Larrisa club in Greece due to a lack of money, a move that followed his sacking at Coventry City, who hired him when he walked out of Real Sociedad in San Sebastian. A departure that was of his own making and seemingly rejecting an ideal place to rehabilitate his reputation after a number of seasons at Fulham came to an end. A club where he was a successful player and looked the ideal candidate to become a coach - following a serious injury that ended his playing days. On replacing Jean Tigana he showed some talent in management in his season. But then was faced with the exit door when the Craven Cottage dreams could not be fulfilled, in his view, as the club sold key players. Today he stands on the brink of history with Wales now the only home nation to make it to the EURO 2016 quarterfinals and his reputation more than rehabilitated.
In contrast Vicente del Bosque returns to Spain with his future in doubt, having said pre-tournament anyway that he was unlikely to continue much further. So the Royal Spanish Football Federation now have little choice but to close that option as they also departed France 2016 relinquishing their eight year hold on the EURO Trophy first seized in Vienna. For a while Del Bosque continued the magic Luis Aragones first sparked in Austria and Switzerland in 2008. But Spain have reached the end of that cycle it seems and now a search for a replacement will soon begin no doubt. The inept performance by Spain in Brazil in 2014 also casting a shadow heralding the end of Spain’s Barca football production line - for the moment. Despite topping their qualifying group unbeaten they failed to fire once again in a major tournament. A sharp contrast to their hunger in South Africa at the World Cup in 2010 which was followed by the Euro 2012 demolition of Italy in the final.
Iceland’s defeat of England secured the only possible career move for Roy Hodgson. Who read out a statement confirming his retirement as the match in Nice barely ended. Equalling the speed of Kevin Keegan resignation in the Wembley toilets after a home defeat by Germany in a 2002 World Cup qualifier. The result compounding another timid appearance at the 2000 EURO in Holland and Belgium where defeats to Portugal and Romania precluded passage to the knock out stages for England. The sputtering performance at Wembley forcing the passionate and honest Keegan to hand in the keys early to the FA and walking out of the England job he loved. In Nice Hodgson did something similar after a nation of 330,000 ended the unrealistic aspirations of England followers once again, who are now seeing another chance to repeat 1966 pass them by. The names of who might replace Hodgson now ringing in the air and proving the major debating point in the wake of the defeat. Apart from more comedic asides arising as the likes of Alan Shearer declare a possible interest.
The logical thinking is that the Football Association have a structure in place. One that over the years has tried to cultivate potential candidates over the long term with Trevor Brooking and Stuart Pearce amongst those earliest on the shop floor fulfilling interim roles on occasion. Albeit Pearce failed with his underage charges in his time and was pushed off the ladder of candidates. With his former teammate at EURO 1996, Gareth Southgate, the main name currently the mix for the Russia 2018 campaign. We say logical if the FA are to back their own system and development structure. Especially with other English candidates few and far between. Though the FA also have a penchant for highly paid foreigners such as Fabio Capello and Sven Goran Ericsson.
As always though it is the incumbent manager that pays the ultimate price regardless of circumstances. Or whether the overpaid players failed to perform. In Nice the latter was definitely the case and the suitability of Gary Neville to management is now also in smithereens as from the bench alongside Hodgson he proved an unviable alternative. With his term at Valencia earlier this year not bolstering his CV either and undoubtable proof that punditry is easier than life in the real world.
Amidst the mayhem a few issue stands out as bizarre. One of the first is that a coach like Paul Clement, who has just re-joined Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich seems to offer no appeal to the England set up. Yet he has been with Ancelotti at Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid with league titles and Champions League medals under his belt. Always operating at the toughest of levels and having to deal with some of the highest paid talent in the world. That accumulated expertise and skill one would imagine to be invaluable to any national football federation. Particularly one struggling to deliver results at the highest levels such as the FA. Whether as a coach or an adviser surely Clement has something to offer England football.
More so if one looks at the supposed minnow nations relying on their own former players such as Michael O’Neil at Northern Ireland, Martin O’Neill with the Republic of Ireland or Chris Coleman. All proving very effective operators among the elite nations with supposedly lesser talented sides than England. Or, more accurately, more non-Premier League players. Ironcially, none of whom would have ever figured an FA list of possible candidates to manage England.As with Iceland's manager Lars Lagerbeck, who ensured that his own CV continues to show no defeats by any England teams in 6 or more major tournaments. In a career spanning time with Sweden, Nigeria and now Iceland.
However, Hodgson is part of a long list of England managers who arrived with excellent CV’s and found nothing but failure managing the national team. All unable to replicate the feats of Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966 or indeed 1970. Except for the late Bobby Robson who took England to a semi-final with Germany at Italia 1990 only to lose out in the penalty shootout. Or Terry Venables in 1996 who squeezed past Spain on penalties in the quarterfinal only to stumble at the seminal stage to Germany once again - on penalties. That German resilience always apparent in major tournaments with them finally exercising their own demons in Brazil two years ago with a Mario Götze goal that ended the dreams of Lionel Messi and Argentina. Spain also did the same in 2008, 2010 and 2012, as have France in 1998 and 2000; with Italy winning the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
In fact, of the major football nations England’s over expectant ambitions remain unfulfilled on the world stage and as consequence of poor play now exit left in France without any willingness to analyse the fundamental problems at player level which seem to preclude any success. Bizarrely Southgate was not part of England’s original travelling party to Euro 2016 but he did undertake various scouting missions on opponents during the tournament. Hopefully one of them was not Iceland. Or someone forgot to read his notes. Although not an official member of the coaching staff there were late moves to make him part of the England set-up.
For some within the FA the former Middlesbrough manager is already a favourite and improved his reputation by leading the England Under 21s to victory in the Toulon U-21 Tournament final earlier in the month – also beating the host nation France.
For the moment though Roy Hodgson joins a rogue’s gallery alongside Steve McClaren, Graham Taylor, Fabio Capello, Glen Hoddle, Peter Taylor, Howard Wilkinson, Kevin Keegan, Stuart Pearce, and Sven Goran Eriksson. Not forgetting those who were refused the chance like Brian Clough, Harry Redknapp or Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Another fine mess!
OSM - All rights reserved
Thursday, 23 June 2016
Diamonds Aren't Forever #IRLITA
Straightjackets in football don’t work. At least in Irish football anyway. That stale end to the Giovanni Trapattoni years at EURO 2012 delivered irrefutable proof that the game evolves constantly. What’s more, good players just need direction – not restrictions – as a hot sweaty night in Lille four years later has proven. As under new management the Republic of Ireland reached the last 16 of the Euro’s and now mix with some of the European football elite. Doing so by beating the same opponents of four years ago, Italy, and never looking out of place, or out of their depth in the final group rubber.
Not dissimilar to that ill-fated night in Stade de France in 2009 when the nation’s footballers played for their lives in the second leg of the 2010 World Cup play off and doing so without restrictions. Having taken the game plan into their own hands. Only to be cheated of a place in South Africa by French striker Thierry Henry’s hand. The latter now waxing lyrically on the couch for BBC Sport’s coverage of the tournament. Although on Sunday he may face a number of rougher tackles under a make believe hashtag #Remember2009
Meanwhile back in Versailles the Ireland manager can reflect on series of selections that addressed the visible bottlenecks in the defeat to world number two side, Belgium, last Saturday. Discarding the diamond for a more practical flat midfield formation that allowed for quicker transition from defence to attack accompanied by an all-out energy that was invisible in their last outing. Raising the tempo too in order to deprive Italy time to build ball possession or start fluid attacks for Za Za up front.
Albeit Azzurri boss Antonio Conte’s side were deemed to be a second string, they still fielded defensive duo Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci for good measure. But neither able to really contain a physical Darryl Murphy, or the always irrepressible Shane Long. Both of whom ran a quarter of a marathon in testing conditions in Stade Lille Metropole on Wednesday that helped engineer passage to the last 16 in Lyon. And a meeting with France on Sunday as the reward. The selections made by Martin O’Neill proved it wasn’t just courage, but an understanding of a different game plan that might gave his charges a chance of upsetting Italy. Hoping also for that bit of luck that never goes astray in any big match.
Although not favoured totally by good fortune, given a young Romanian referee. Who seemed overawed by some of the potential decisions and failing to spot the numerous Italians faux injuries. With the biggest oversight a foul on James McClean late in the second half inside the penalty box that Mr Ovidiu Hategen deemed fair. A penalty that would have proved timely for an Irish team clearly reaching maximum output after an endless chase for the previous seventy minutes.
But unknown at the time fate had prepared another outcome with the substitutions of Shane Long and Darryl Murphy making way for Aiden McGeady and Wes Hoolahan. The latter about to impact the script once again in the final quarter. First with an unlikely miss in front of goal when winning back a ball on the Italian penalty box. As he fluffed his strike and put the ball into the French keeper’s arms. An unlikely result for such a talented player who has only found international recognition late in his career.
Then just a few minutes later a break out of defence from Robbie Brady saw the ball pass through McGeady who in turn found Hoolahan on the right hand side. After checking back in to his left foot Hoolahan floated a pass - into the same spot where he had just missed his own chance - finding Brady in full flight towards goal. His Norwich team mate bravely heading the ball into the back of the Italian net and securing his own moment in another memorable victory for the Republic of Ireland.
Although this time with only minutes left on the clock and equalling Ray Houghton’s feats in Stuttgart 1988 and New Jersey 1994 - both of which were scored very early in those games against England and Italy respectively. Leaving fans drained for three quarters of the match as they waited in desperation for the referee’s final whistle to start of unexpected celebrations. The victory in Lille now passing that baton of Irish scorers on to the next generation and engendering further support for a game that had been sustained on crumbs before Jack Charlton took Ireland to the first Euro’s in Germany in 1988. Then following it with the world cups of Italy in 1990 and then USA 1994. That momentum then restored by Mick McCarthy in 2002 in Korea and Japan when a draw against Germany - from Robbie Keane goal – ensured passage to the next round.
Since then though Irish fans lived off scraps as it was 2012 before the nation reached another international football tournament and that was under Italian Giovanni Trapattoni.
Although the Italian was an efficient operator, he was a man of another time, and the overriding benefits of his organisation - post Steve Staunton - were erased by his rigidness at major competitions. A fate he had similarly befallen when leading Italy in the 2002 world cup where he lost controversially in the last 16 to the host nation Korea. For Ireland in 2012 his team from the outset looked exhausted, mentally drained and out of ideas as early as the first game against Croatia. With the Italy and Spain matches proving white washes it was hard to find any Irish heroes in Poland nd Ukraine with many of those players emerging with much more than scar tissue.
Thankfully in this new era of O’Neill and Roy Keane it is the exact opposite with the two former Brian Clough prodigies full of the quirks that were part nd parcel of the successful Nottingham Forest manager. Yet both very in tune with their player’s needs, each other and most importantly, tactically innovative. O’Neill proving that already against Germany at the AVIVA where the world champions were rendered infective for the most of the game and Darren Randolph and Shane Long combining to secure that vital win which revived the EURO 2016 hopes.
That night a victory was deemed impossible by the pundits ahead of the game as Glen Whelan was unavailable and a fear that the diamond would have to be ditched. However, in the end the result proved that was not the case – perhaps the greatest learning for O’Neill - as the night in Lille showed many similar characteristics. On both occasions the absence of Whelan empowering James McCarthy – who despite the self-opinionated protestations of Eamon Dunphy on RTE – is a valuable cog to Ireland’s offensive game plans. Proving that with more responsibility the Everton man responds and plays with less inhibition. With James McClean also showing the usual commitment and effort that has earned him a more regular place on the left side for Ireland.
Although the value of Whelan is not diminished as yet it offers less options in the modern front football style that requires taking on opponents with the ball at feet and running with speed. The Stoke City midfielder a throwback to former Bohemians and Manchester United’s, Mick Martin – or indeed John Giles in his later years for Ireland – happy to move side to side for possession sake rather than risk going forward. Which at times is required when soaking up pressure but not for placing opponents under pressure as Jack Charlton so fondly used to called tactics.
Lille has proved that diamonds aren’t forever and it was a night where Robbie Brady became the new Ray Houghton, Ireland reached the last sixteen once gain and Roy and Martin became the new Jack Charlton and Maurice Setters. The mentions of Stuttgart, Giants Stadium and Ibaraki will also give way to that famous night in Lille of June 2016.
For those that were there it was another one of those iconic moments
#COYBIG
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