Ireland 0-1 France
Translating fighting talk into action is easier said than done as this Ireland team and its manager are quickly finding out.
They are left pondering another harsh truth, that even when you tick most of the boxes and get things right, you can still be left on your arse with nothing to show for it.
The fact this defeat was of their own making, after a Josh Cullen error that Benjamin Pavard dispatched, just makes it all the harder to stomach.
Not that Cullen needs any reminding what the difference between a great night’s work and a sickening one was.
He sank to his knees on the full-time whistle and buried his face in the grass.
Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann were, for the most part, kept under wraps with an inspired Seamus Coleman leading an impressive defensive display.
Ireland carried out those defensive duties to near perfection until that unforced Cullen error five minutes into the second half.
Ireland’s attack didn’t amount to a great deal but Aviva Stadium was deafening in the closing 10 minutes, as the Boys in Green reeled in the years with a kitchen sink effort.
Finally, we were seeing the ‘fire’ that Stephen Kenny had vowed to unleash on France with Adam Idah, Michael Obafemi, James McClean and Mikey Johnston all thrown in.
Irish fans are well accustomed to seeing their team plunder heroic 1-1 draws down the years, with late, late goals scored into the South Stand.
And a comeback here would have topped the lot.
But with France under siege, Nathan Collins was lost for words when Mike Maignan somehow clawed his header from the top corner in the final minute of normal time.
Few honestly expected Ireland to emerge with any points here, but they have credit in the bank and received a standing ovation.
Good will, of course, will only get you so far.
Still, Ireland restricted France to the grand sum of no shots on target by half-time with sheer doggedness at the back.
That’s not to say the World Cup finalists weren’t a threat.
They spent the majority of the opening half camped deep in Irish territory, but the Irish rearguard showed tremendous discipline.
Coleman, Collins, John Egan and Dara O’Shea were like four mates down the pub having a great old chat.
The non-stop chatter was flowing, barking orders at one another as to who they should pick up and what gaps to fill.
With forward Chiedozie Ogbene tucking in and drawing on skills from his wing-back days, Ireland were well served down that side where Mbappe lurked.
But Coleman never left his station in that respect, and was like a leech.
Jayson Molumby’s off-the-charts energy levels in midfield helped keep supporters charged.
He broke up two French attacks with lung-busting runs and sliding tackles, before turning to whip the crowd into a frenzy.
Ireland were particularly limited in attack but, on the bright side, the Netherlands were already 3-0 down in Paris on Friday at the same point of the first-half.
Ireland’s surges forward amounted to a slew of long balls pumped in Ogbene’s direction, down the right.
Coleman, for obvious reasons, didn’t join in those attacks and stayed back to mind the house, knowing France are the counter-attack masters.
But Ireland also knew that Theo Hernandez was the weak link, and Ogbene got great purchase from their duel, winning a handful of free kicks.
Level at the break, Ireland were facing a huge 45 minutes.
Alas, they sabotaged their own mission just five minutes after the restart with the greatest of gifts to their opponents.
A French move on the edge of the box broke down when Cullen intercepted a stray ball. But his own attempted short pass to Jason Knight was carelessly executed.
Pavard read the danger and pounced before driving high into Bazunu’s net from 20-yards. It sucked the life out of Aviva Stadium in an instant.
Soon after, Bazunu had to deny Moussa Diaby and Adrien Rabiot but Ireland produced a barnstorming finish with Kenny emptying the bench.
Alan Browne and Collins, in particular, both thought they had snatched a late equaliser.
It wasn’t to be and Ireland will need to draw on similar battling qualities in the stifling Greek heat this summer, but they showed they can be competitive in this company.
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