That’s all for tonight, though we’ll have a match report later this evening. Thanks for your company and emails, night.
The state of play in Group B
France P5 Pts 15
Netherlands P4 Pts 9
Greece P5 Pts 9
Ireland P5 Pts 3
Gibraltar P5 Pts 0
Full time: Republic of Ireland 1-2 Netherlands
Peep peep! A night of quiet despair for Ireland, who started superbly but were slowly, steadily stripped of hope by the Netherlands.
Adam Idah’s early penalty was equalised by another from Cody Gakpo. After an even first half, Ronald Koeman brought on Wout Weghorst and switched to a back four. It had the desired effect: the Netherlands totally dominated the second half and Weghorst scored an excellent winner.
Netherlands will fight Greece for the second qualification place in Group B. Ireland’s only chance is to sneak through the catflap.
The Dutch lead through Weghorst 🇳🇱@BurnleyOfficial's on-loan striker makes it 2-1 against Ireland at the Aviva 👏#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/IzcnowKM8u
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) September 10, 2023
Updated
90+5 min Ebosele’s long throw is headed on by Collins and claimed by Flekken. That should be it.
90+5 min It’s almost done. One last throw-in for Ireland in the final third.
90+3 min Weghorst screws a cross-shot well wide, though there was an offside in the build up.
90+3 min Lang, who has been excellent since coming on, wins a corner for the Netherlands.
90+2 min Manning’s cross is punched away nervously by Flekken, who could have caught the ball, but he gets away with it.
90+1 min Manning’s corner is headed away emphatically by Van Dijk.
90+1 min Five minutes of added time. Ebosele wins a corner for Ireland on the right.
90 min Smallbone’s free-kick doesn’t beat the first man, De Jong. Ach!
Updated
90 min Ireland are given a soft free-kick on the left wing. This might be their last chance…
89 min: Netherlands substitution Xavi Simons is replaced by Steven Berghuis.
88 min: Double substitution for Ireland Festy Ebosele and the debutant Sinclair Armstrong replace Matt Doherty and Jason Knight.
87 min Weghorst is booked for something or other and gives the referee an evil stare.
86 min A poor cross from Manning goes straight into the hands of Flekken. In other news, Greece 4-0 Gibraltar.
85 min Lang dribbles into the Ireland area and is calmly, crucially, dispossessed by Duffy. Another goal would finish Ireland.
84 min This result would realistically end Ireland’s chances of qualifying through Group B, but the Nations League back door is still open. I’m too thick to understand it all but apparently are still in contention for a playoff place.
82 min “What are the TGWCMs (that you’ve seen) do you reckon?” asks Niall Mullen. “France-Brazil in Guadalajara in 1986, Netherlands-Argentina in Marseille in 1998, Italy-Germany in Dortmund 2006, and Ireland-Egypt in Palermo 1990. Any more?”
Ireland-Norway in New Jersey 1994 was one for the books.
81 min: Netherlands substitution Noa Lang replaces Cody Gakpo.
81 min This is Ireland’s best spell of the second half, even if that isn’t saying much. Ogbene’s cross is sliced away for a throw-in by Van Dijk.
79 min Ireland have had no attacking momentum since half-time. I’m surprised we haven’t seen Aaron Connolly given his decent form of late.
76 min Ireland are having a bit more of the ball, though I’m not sure whether that’s because they have improved or the Dutch have started to retreat. Doherty’s cross is slightly too heavy and goes out for a throw-in.
Last throw of the dice now. Ireland look to have reverted to back four. McGrath as a number ten with Knight and Ogbene as wingers. Has to be a temptation to throw in Connolly, Ebosele or even Armstrong for final stages. Just look short of legs at this stage.
— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) September 10, 2023
Updated
74 min: Double substitution for Ireland Jamie McGrath and Will Smallbone replace John Egan and the excellent, but presumably shattered, Alan Browne. That means a switch to a back four.
72 min “‘Last year’s final surely qualifies as a TGWCM,’” begins Anthony Switzerland, quoting an earlier entry. “How old are you? 6?”
71 min In other news, and I’m not making this up, Luis Rubiales has gone on the TV show Piers Morgan Uncensored to announce his resignation as president of the Spanish Football Federation.
Updated
70 min Stephen Kenny and Keith Andrews talk tactics on the touchline. It’s been another frustrating night for Ireland, who started well but have been completely outplayed in the second half.
69 min In the other Group B game it’s now Greece 3-0 Gibraltar, for real.
68 min: Netherlands substitution Teun Koopmeiners on, Donyell Malen off.
66 min Gakpo stops Ireland taking a quick free-kick and is booked. So is Jason Knight for trying to get the ball off him.
65 min Ogbene tries to turn Van Dijk in the area and goes over. It was either a slip or a dive, but definitely not a penalty.
65 min “I tend not to remember the details of many games from the past, Rob, other than ‘moments’ that are etched in the mind for various reasons, having been replayed endlessly or due to personal allegiance or particular circumstances, but that Germany v Italy game in 2006 really sticks in my mind,” says Simon McMahon. “I watched it all the way through, and that extra time period may well be the most memorable 30 minutes of football I’ve ever watched. Until next summer, I hope…”
64 min: Ireland substitution Ryan Manning replaces James McClean at left wing-back.
63 min Stephen Kenny has some options on the bench, including Will Smallbone, Aaron Connolly and Festy Ebosele. He’s got to do something. Cause if we don’t take care of this then... I don’t even want to think about it.
62 min A superb cross from Dumfries is kicked away by Duffy, facing his own goal in the six-yard box.
61 min This is starting to look ominous for Ireland, who have barely had a kick since half-time.
58 min It’s another goal conceded by Ireland early in the second half. They are struggling here and Stephen Kenny might need to think about a change of shape, or at least personnel.
56 min Denzel Dumfries has made all five of the Netherlands’ goals in this international window. He’s a right-back.
De Jong showed his class, flipping a delicious pass over the Ireland defence towards Dumfries, who ran off McClean and was played onside by Duffy. Dumfries headed the ball across to Weghorst, who got in front of his man and cushioned the bouncing ball deftly past Bazunu. That’s an excellent finish.
Updated
GOAL! Ireland 1-2 Netherlands (Weghorst 56)
Netherlands take the lead with a superb team goal!
Updated
55 min Netherlands have dominated possession since the change of system at half-time, and at the moment Ireland are struggling to get out.
54 min McClean’s inswinging free-kick is headed away well by Weghorst.
53 min The tireless Ogbene is fouled on the right wing by Simons, a silly foul that allows Ireland to send the big men forward.
Updated
52 min: Great tackle from Browne! Alan Browne, who has probably been Ireland’s best player tonight, saves a goal with a superb piece of defending. Dumfries moved into the area and cut the ball back carefully towards Simons, who was about to shoot from 10 yards when Browne came on the blindside to make a vital challenge.
50 min “That 1998 Dutch team was one of the great international teams,” says Niall Mullen. “And they were involved in what may have been the last truly great World Cup match.”
I mean, I agree with almost everything you say but last year’s final surely qualifies as a TGWCM. I’d put Germany v Italy 2006 on the list as well.
49 min Weghorst scuffs a shot from the edge of the area that is blocked.
48 min Knight’s cross is dropped by Flekken, though the referee gives a foul against Duffy. I’m not sure it was.
47 min “For quality, certainly de Jong,” says Charles Antaki. “Push him up a bit and to the right a bit and he looks a lot like Martin Ødegaard (a year younger); and, like Ødegaard, has skills on a different plane from the rest of the national team (a certain goalscorer excepted).”
The competition would be pretty fierce, though: Davids, Seedorf, Jonk, de Boer, Cocu. Jeez that was a lovely team.
46 min Peep peep! The Netherlands begin the second half. This is an important period for Ireland, who have conceded a lot of goals early in the second half under Stephen Kenny.
Ronald Koeman is making a double substitution at half-time. Wout Weghorst and Tijjani Reijnders replace Daley Blind and Mats Wieffer. That probably means a switch to 4-3-3, with Nathan Ake moving to left-back.
Updated
“Ireland remind me of Scotland circa 2019,” writes Simon McMahon. “In transition, lots of potential, need to stick with the squad and manager. Yeah, get me, patronising other national teams. Matt Dony and Wales, you’re next…”
I can’t wait until Euro 2024. “France remind me of Scotland circa 2019…”
“Greece/Gibraltar,” begins Howard. “It’s really annoying when they ‘give’ a goal in the scores, so Greece became 3 - 0 for several minutes, then remove it after VAR. Websites, TV etc should get together and only show goals when they have been confirmed.”
You’re right, although I can’t really criticise as I’ve made that exact mistake a few times.
“If Stephen Kenny is an alchemist, as Niall Mullen suggests, what are we to make of Ronald Koeman?” wonders Joe Pearson. “On paper, this should be a walkover, but it reads like the Dutch are at least a step, if not more, off the pace. Thoughts?”
In his defence, this isn’t a golden generation of Dutch players either. How many of this lot would get in, say, the 1998 World Cup team? Dumfries, probably De Jong, maybe Gakpo, but that’s about it.
Half time: Republic of Ireland 1-1 Netherlands
A lively first half in Dublin. Adam Idah’s early penalty gave Ireland a perfect start, and their pressing caused problems throughout. But the Netherlands showed their class at times: Cody Gakpo equalised from the spot and Gavin Bazunu – who gave away that penalty - had to make two good saves to deny Donyell Malen. The scoreline is about right.
Updated
45+1 min Three minutes of added time.
45+1 min Greece’s third goal just have been VARed, because they are apparently 2-0 up.
45 min Simons swishes a bouncing ball over the top from 22 yards. He cut across it quite nicely but couldn’t get it to dip under the bar.
44 min Simons’ cross isn’t cleared properly by Egan, but Gakpo can’t control an awkward ball on the edge of the area.
42 min Ogbene is booked for a foul on Ake.
41 min: Good save by Bazunu! Malen again comes alive, surging into the area from the right and driving a low shot across goal from a tight angle. Bazunu reacts smartly to save with his right foot.
40 min The goalkeeper Flekken passes the ball straight out for a throw-in, a reflection of an often ragged first-half performance from the Dutch.
39 min Possession percentage so far: Ireland 57-43 Netherlands. I wonder when Ireland dominated the ball against a Dutch team.
38 min In other news, Greece 3-0 Gibraltar. That doesn’t really change anything for Ireland, who need a win tonight, then anotehr at home to Greece next month.
37 min Ireland had a wobbly spell after the equaliser but they are playing well again now. Their pressing has been excellent.
36 min Gakpo’s deep, outswinging corner is headed wide by Dumfries. Barely a chance.
34 min “I don’t really know if Stephen Kenny is doing a good job or not but look at that team,” says Niall Mullen. “The star man is a Luton benchwarmer, the goal scorer is a Norwich reserve, and James McClean plays for a TV show. Perhaps Kenny checked the box that said alchemist on the application form so will deserve his pink slip. Otherwise it will seem pretty harsh, if/when it inevitably arrives.”
Yeah, be careful what you wish for and all that. It’s a shame because there are some really good young players emerging – Ferguson, Moran, even Melia – and Kenny’s style of play would suit them.
33 min: Another chance for Ireland! De Jong is robbed on the edge of the D by Browne. Idah plays the loose ball square to Ogbene, whose shot is well blocked by Ake. That’s the second time Ireland have almost scored after pressing the Netherlands in their own area.
33 min Browne curls the free-kick a few yards wide. It was a decent effort, though Flekken had it covered.
32 min Ake fouls Ogbene 25 yards from goal. This is a good spell for Ireland, who have made the Netherlands defence look ragged at times.
30 min The last man Van Dijk faffs around on the edge of his own area and is dispossessed by Idah. He goes down and the referee gives a free-kick. That was a pretty tight call; I’m not sure it was a foul at all.
Updated
27 min Another McClean corner ricochets around the six-yard box. Eventually it’s half cleared to Knight, whose shot from the edge of the area is blocked. Netherlands are all over the show on set pieces.
27 min “Are there different rules for goalkeepers?” says Samuel Campbell. “I thought that it was a red if you make no attempt to play the ball and I don’t think Bazunu made any attempt to play the ball there.”
Does he not make an attempt by coming out in the first place? It’s that movement towards Dumfries which leads to the penalty. Had he made a separate attempt to trip Dumfries it would have been a red card (I think).
25 min: Good save from Bazunu! Malen shows skill and a devastating change of pace to beat Egan and march into the area. He drives a low shot across goal that is beaten away by Bazunu, plunging to his right. The rebound almost falls for Malen but Collins gets between him and the ball.
Updated
23 min It’s now Greece 2-0 Gibraltar in the other Group B game.
22 min This is an enjoyable game, almost old-fashioned in its physicality. It feels like the second half, not the first, with both teams frantically hunting the ball.
Updated
GOAL! Ireland 1-1 Netherlands (Gakpo 19 pen)
Cody Gakpo scores! Bazunu went the right way, to his left, and got a hand to it, but he could only push it into the net.
Updated
19 min Ireland’s defensive line was all over the place then, with Duffy playing Dumfries onside.
18 min: Penalty to Netherlands! Gakpo slides a lovely pass through to Dumfries, who gets to the ball a fraction before Bazunu and is fouled. A clear penalty and a yellow card for Bazunu.
Updated
16 min The corner is cleared, Ireland break and Mats Wieffer is booked for a crude foul on Knight.
15 min Gakpo’s free-kick is headed behind by Nathan Collins. In the other game, Dimitrios Pelkas has put Greece ahead against Gibraltar.
13 min McClean’s corner is punched away by Flekken. Cullen’s snap volley is blocked, but Ireland regain possession and Ogbene curls a fine cross to the far post. Browne (I think) jumps highest but his header is well blocked. Netherlands don’t look comfortable on crosses and set-pieces.
Updated
13 min No alarms in defence thus far for Ireland. I put their formation as 5-2-2-1 because I thought they’d be pinned back, but Doherty and McClean are playing very high up the field. Just as I type that, Doherty surges into the area to win another corner.
10 min Dumfries gets to his feet and immediately goes looking for McClean. An exchange of opinions, not entirely civil, ensues.
8 min Dumfries stays down after a hefty tackle from McClean, who probably should have been booked for that. While Dumfries receives treatment, here’s Adam Idah’s nerveless penalty.
IRELAND LEAD!!! 😱🇮🇪@NorwichCityFC's Adam Idah scores from the spot against the Netherlands 👏#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/pZXhQgbExb
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) September 10, 2023
7 min There’s a cracking pace to the game, and we’ve already seen a few lively challenges from both sides.
6 min “As Ric Ocasek sang, you’re all I’ve got tonight,” says Joe Pearson. “Fox stuck it behind a pay wall. Fifty bucks! Nope. Most of my countrymen are hip deep in NFL Week One, but I want to know what’s going on in a Euro 2024 qualifier. Is that so wrong?”
It isn’t now!
5 min “Not àpropos of this game, admittedly, Rob; but I see that Hansi Flick has just been sacked from the Germany job,” writes Charles Antaki. “Sadly the Guardian typesetters passed up the chance to do some creative work on the kerning front and have failed to give FLICK OFF its long-awaited appearance.”
With the Grauniad’s reputation, what could possibly go wrong?
GOAL! Republic of Ireland 1-0 Netherlands (Idah 4 pen)
Adam Idah calmly sends Flekken the wrong way! It’s a perfect start for Ireland, and the Aviva Stadium has turned into a bouncy castle.
Updated
2 min: Penalty to Ireland! The corner is headed towards goal by Duffy and hits the outstretched arm of Van Dijk. A typical modern penalty; it won’t be overturned.
The Netherlands foul which led to the Irish penalty kick... 👊#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/eKIb4kOlRI
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) September 10, 2023
Updated
2 min: Chance for Ogbene! Ireland almost take the lead after 62 seconds. Flekken played an absurdly risky pass towards De Jong (I think), who was bullied off the ball 12 yards from his own goal. Idah laid it off to Ogbene, whose shot was desperately blocked and flew behind for a corner.
Updated
1 min After a minute’s silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the Morocco earthquake, Adam Idah gets the game under way. Ireland are kicking from right to left as we watch.
A reminder of the teams
Ireland (possible 5-2-2-1) Bazunu; Doherty, Collins, Duffy, Egan, McClean; Browne, Cullen; Ogbene, Knight; Idah.
Substitutes: Kelleher, O’Leary, O’Shea, Manning, Smallbone, Hendrick, Molumby, Connolly, McGrath, Ebosele, Armstrong, Omobamidele.
Netherlands (possible 3-4-2-1) Flekken; De Ligt, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, Wieffer, De Jong, Blind; Simons, Gakpo; Malen.
Substitutes: Verbruggen, Noppert, Van de Ven, De Vrij, Weghorst, Lang, Berghuis, Hartman, Reijnders, De Roon, Veerman, Koopmeiners.
Updated
How lovely it is to hear from our old friend Ian McCourt
“Rob, how are ya? It’s funny that someone should bring up the Red Rose Cafe by The Fureys. Way back in 1999, my dad worked for Bray Wanderers and for the FAI Cup final, they recorded a version of that song with the team - he’s in the background of this video.
“On the CD version of it, there is a shorter version on which my dad, who is no longer with us, speaks. I’ve always wanted to get my hands on one to play his voice to the kids but have never had any luck. Maybe a reader out there has one?”
If you do, please get in touch.
The players walk onto the field. It looks a humid night in Dublin, with an outside chance of thunderstorms.
“The traveling support of the Danish national team took over about half a block of downtown Helsinki today,” writes Kári Tulinius. “There was the traditional off-key singing and copious drinking, but what was most notable, however, was that plenty of fans in Finnish shirts had joined them, and the camaraderie was palpable. I wonder how many of them were in the stadium to see Christian Eriksen collapse. Shared trauma can bind people together.”
“Rob Smyth, hope you’re well,” says a very polite Paul Roche. “Here’s a Dutch-flavoured Irish tune, or perhaps it’s an Irish-flavoured Dutch tune, to gets things going
Saturday 1 September 2001, 3pm, Lansdowne Road
Ireland lost 2-0 in France on Thursday, a result so predictable that there is very little to say about the game.
The state of play in Group B
France P5 Pts 15
Netherlands P3 Pts 6
Greece P4 Pts 6
Ireland P4 Pts 3
Gibraltar P4 Pts 0
The other game tonight is Greece v Gibraltar, which should be an emphatic home win.
Team news
Stephen Kenny makes two changes from the France defeat, both at wing-back. Matt Doherty, who is available after suspension, and James McClean come in for Jayson Molumby and Enda Stevens. That means Alan Browne, who played at right wing-back in Paris, will move into the centre of midfield.
Ronald Koeman has tinkered with the Netherlands side that hammered Greece on Thursday. Matthijs de Ligt, Mats Wieffer and Donyell Malen come in for Lutsharel Geertruida (who is injured), Marten de Roon and Wout Weghorst.
Ireland (possible 5-3-2) Bazunu; Doherty, Collins, Duffy, Egan, McClean; Browne, Cullen; Ogbene, Knight; Idah.
Substitutes: Kelleher, O’Leary, O’Shea, Manning, Smallbone, Hendrick, Molumby, Connolly, McGrath, Ebosele, Armstrong, Omobamidele.
Netherlands (possible 3-4-2-1) Flekken; De Ligt, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, Wieffer, De Jong, Blind; Simons, Gakpo; Malen.
Substitutes: Verbruggen, Noppert, Van de Ven, De Vrij, Weghorst, Lang, Berghuis, Hartman, Reijnders, De Roon, Veerman, Koopmeiners.
Referee Irfan Peljto (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Updated
Preamble
For most of Stephen Kenny’s three years as Ireland manager, much of the focus has been on the future: changing the style of play and building a young side that could qualify for major tournaments. But the present catches up with us all eventually, and Kenny has reached the point where, as a wise man once said, next time there’ll be no next time.
Ireland need to beat the Netherlands tonight to maintain a realistic chance of qualifying automatically for Euro 2024. (The playoffs are a different, more complicated story.) There have been suggestions this could be Kenny’s last game as Ireland manager. It’s sad that it has come to this, especially as he has been extremely unlucky with injuries and the draw for qualifying, but football has never really been a place for dreamers.
And yet. If Ireland play as well as they did at home to France in March, they will trouble the Netherlands. A famous victory certainly isn’t beyond the realms. For richer or poorer, this could be the defining night of the Stephen Kenny era.
Kick off 7.45pm.
