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Replying To yew_tree: "A very disappointing night for Irish soccer but in a way it made be so proud and grateful of our own national games. Soccer has turned into a corrupt, diving, cheating game. Absolutely disgraceful what I witnessed there tonight. Yes Ireland let a lead slip twice but come on…Denmark will trounce those jokers into the ground." Agree 100%, I don't watch much soccer anymore because it is so full of cheating and diving and feigning injury, makes me sick looking at fellas pretending they have head injuries when they weren't hit anywhere near the head area, and lads rolling about holding their shin when they weren't even touched. The new thing about ridiculous handball penalties is another joke, defenders with their hands clasped behind their backs trying to block a cross or shot, looks completely ridiculous and unnatural to me doing that. At this top level it's a game played by millionaire athletes who are putting on a show and pretending they give a damn about it when all it really care is about is their huge salaries and next big contract. Ireland blew a 2 goal lead last night against a very average team, I think the Danes will go through but I really couldn't care less about it, the World Cup finals itself has turned into another overblown dragged out charade like the Champions League, far better when it was less teams qualified and some real serious bite to it from when the groups are drawn. At least Italy won anyway, one result I enjoyed. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3790 - 27/03/2026 08:31:50 2663419 Link
Replying To S1234: "Way to much overconfidence pre match. Thousands travelling without tickets and all. Players mums etc on news in tears. Like we won the world cup. Hard luck to them but overconfidence is a killer and us from mayo of all know that for sure ." Don't confuse overconfidence with underconfidence, which is also a killer, especially when taking penalties in shootouts. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4635 - 27/03/2026 08:34:54 2663421 Link
Replying To SouthGalway: "So sick after that match. 2-0 up. 1-0 up in the penalties. Needlessly giving away a penalty when the ball was bouncing out of bounds, etc. Sick to my stomach. Sigh." Our goals were soft concessions too of course, but we were good enough to win that. It won't be as annoying, if Denmark win well on Tuesday night. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4635 - 27/03/2026 08:41:20 2663422 Link
Replying To S1234: "Way to much overconfidence pre match. Thousands travelling without tickets and all. Players mums etc on news in tears. Like we won the world cup. Hard luck to them but overconfidence is a killer and us from mayo of all know that for sure ." To a lesser degree, we can emphathise with that, ergo last Sunday. But you are totally correct, way too over confident. In the second half we reverted to what had become type. Always scrambling, no shape, no real leaders on the field, couldn't work the ball out, even hold the ball. . The team is possibly growing but are a few proper players short of a team, in my humble opinion, and I am no expert. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2176 - 27/03/2026 08:56:12 2663423 Link
Replying To Pope_Benedict: "Don't confuse overconfidence with underconfidence, which is also a killer, especially when taking penalties in shootouts." Lol or maybe just not good enough . S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 1020 - 27/03/2026 08:59:03 2663424 Link
They beat us at our own game, ie the Jack Charlton way, putting us under pressure with the long ball up and down the pitch and across. They had their homework done. They beat us in the same way as we beat Hungary. When the whistle blew at the end of normal time the full-time score was 2 - 2, we scored once but they scored three times. The pennos could have gone either way that's the way it is with pennos you need a bit of luck. The style of referring suited them more so than us, dangerous play went unchecked. The players were not overconfident - - - at all. supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3386 - 27/03/2026 09:18:43 2663428 Link
the 3 republic penalties scored were very cool and calm. you just wait for the opening and tap it in. its all psychological. The Czech lads cracked me up with the acting, it was fun. suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1779 - 27/03/2026 09:26:04 2663430 Link
I found it really hard to get excited about the build up or the game last night. The whole thing is such a long drawn out overbloated mess. Last night was a terrible game between 2 bang average teams, neither should be anywhere near a world cup, Denmark will surely dispatch of the Czechs easily next week, and then the Danes will get knocked out in the groups stages in the summer. The whole thing has been destroyed by money, commercial deals and players that wouldn't run through a strong wind let alone a brick wall for their country anymore. Roll on the championship. dolfos (Longford) - Posts: 150 - 27/03/2026 09:35:05 2663431 Link
As always couldn't fault the effort and endeavor of the Irish team. It was the lack of quality and composure that cost them at the end. A stupid penalty and free kick conceded being their downfall ultimately. Even more disappointing given how limited the Czechs look as well. Even though the Danes should be a step above I think had we won tonight, the Aviva would have been on wheels on Tuesday night which would have been a leveller and would have gave us a good chance. It's all ifs and butts now. peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1520 - 27/03/2026 09:38:11 2663432 Link
Replying To yew_tree: "A very disappointing night for Irish soccer but in a way it made be so proud and grateful of our own national games. Soccer has turned into a corrupt, diving, cheating game. Absolutely disgraceful what I witnessed there tonight. Yes Ireland let a lead slip twice but come on…Denmark will trounce those jokers into the ground." It was scandalous, blatant cheating. Soccer really needs a TMO type system to root out this nonsense. Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1908 - 27/03/2026 09:55:17 2663435 Link
Replying To supersub15: "They beat us at our own game, ie the Jack Charlton way, putting us under pressure with the long ball up and down the pitch and across. They had their homework done. They beat us in the same way as we beat Hungary. When the whistle blew at the end of normal time the full-time score was 2 - 2, we scored once but they scored three times. The pennos could have gone either way that's the way it is with pennos you need a bit of luck. The style of referring suited them more so than us, dangerous play went unchecked. The players were not overconfident - - - at all." We scored once but they scored 3times, really? Do you equate scoring own goals and actual goals in the one pot? A novel take, but does it make any sense? Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4635 - 27/03/2026 10:05:54 2663437 Link
I don't get people saying they can't fault their effort, ah they are a great bunch of lads. As mentioned the quality was poor overall yet these are multi millionaire pro athletes and sometimes you'd swear they weee part time postmen. Put it another way, if that was an all Ireland final And say Mayo lost it that way, there would be no mercy. Sometimes I think we go too hard and are over critical of our own games which are amateur yet we sometimes give multi millionaires a pass. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11986 - 27/03/2026 10:29:29 2663442 Link
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "Agree 100%, I don't watch much soccer anymore because it is so full of cheating and diving and feigning injury, makes me sick looking at fellas pretending they have head injuries when they weren't hit anywhere near the head area, and lads rolling about holding their shin when they weren't even touched. The new thing about ridiculous handball penalties is another joke, defenders with their hands clasped behind their backs trying to block a cross or shot, looks completely ridiculous and unnatural to me doing that. At this top level it's a game played by millionaire athletes who are putting on a show and pretending they give a damn about it when all it really care is about is their huge salaries and next big contract. Ireland blew a 2 goal lead last night against a very average team, I think the Danes will go through but I really couldn't care less about it, the World Cup finals itself has turned into another overblown dragged out charade like the Champions League, far better when it was less teams qualified and some real serious bite to it from when the groups are drawn. At least Italy won anyway, one result I enjoyed." I hardly ever watch soccer either but last night they just weren't good enough. Poor passing, not passing to their players in space, passing and their players had to stop and wait for the ball. These are pro players. On penalties, at least they hit the target and didn't balloon them over the bar. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2594 - 27/03/2026 10:44:59 2663445 Link
Replying To yew_tree: "I don't get people saying they can't fault their effort, ah they are a great bunch of lads. As mentioned the quality was poor overall yet these are multi millionaire pro athletes and sometimes you'd swear they weee part time postmen. Put it another way, if that was an all Ireland final And say Mayo lost it that way, there would be no mercy. Sometimes I think we go too hard and are over critical of our own games which are amateur yet we sometimes give multi millionaires a pass." The reason they're overpaid is not because of their talent, it's because of soccer's worldwide popularity and commercial capacity. If any of our players were worid class, the best of them wouldn't be playing for Brentford. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4635 - 27/03/2026 11:14:21 2663448 Link
Replying To peiledoir20: "As always couldn't fault the effort and endeavor of the Irish team. It was the lack of quality and composure that cost them at the end. A stupid penalty and free kick conceded being their downfall ultimately. Even more disappointing given how limited the Czechs look as well. Even though the Danes should be a step above I think had we won tonight, the Aviva would have been on wheels on Tuesday night which would have been a leveller and would have gave us a good chance. It's all ifs and butts now." Couldn't fault their effort? They got beaten by miles in the 2nd half . Just were not good enough. S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 1020 - 27/03/2026 11:48:15 2663457 Link
Replying To yew_tree: "I don't get people saying they can't fault their effort, ah they are a great bunch of lads. As mentioned the quality was poor overall yet these are multi millionaire pro athletes and sometimes you'd swear they weee part time postmen. Put it another way, if that was an all Ireland final And say Mayo lost it that way, there would be no mercy. Sometimes I think we go too hard and are over critical of our own games which are amateur yet we sometimes give multi millionaires a pass." I think if we had a squad full of quality Premier league players or top level European league players and they all underforned individually and collectively as a team, you could justify a much harsher critique. I don't think it's giving them a free pass, more of a reluctant acceptance of what level our National team is at. Some of our lads played well enough, close to as well as I've seen a few of them play really. Some poor performances too. Its frustrating, but we punched above our weight for years. The reality now is nearly our whole squad play in the Chamoionship, a few in League One as well. Two regular outfield starters in the Premier League (Collins, O Brien). That's where we're at. Despite a lot of people here saying it was a poor Czech team, Czechia have lads playing in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga. Most of their team last night were playing Chamoions league or Europa League this season. As I said , it's not a free pass for our players, just a reluctant acceptance of the quality that's at our disposal. HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 547 - 27/03/2026 12:43:55 2663462 Link
Replying To S1234: "Couldn't fault their effort? They got beaten by miles in the 2nd half . Just were not good enough." You're an expert on soccer now Ms. Kennedy? peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1520 - 27/03/2026 13:10:39 2663469 Link
Even with the game 2-1 to the Republic you always felt the Czechs would equalise and didn't feel confident the Republic would win in normal time, unlike Turkey, Denmark or Italy who once they score its game over because they can completely control the game and see it out. Once I seen Browne stepping up to take a penalty I knew it was curtains for the Republic (his record at penalties is very poor) katser (Galway) - Posts: 2810 - 27/03/2026 13:19:53 2663471 Link
Replying To yew_tree: "I don't get people saying they can't fault their effort, ah they are a great bunch of lads. As mentioned the quality was poor overall yet these are multi millionaire pro athletes and sometimes you'd swear they weee part time postmen. Put it another way, if that was an all Ireland final And say Mayo lost it that way, there would be no mercy. Sometimes I think we go too hard and are over critical of our own games which are amateur yet we sometimes give multi millionaires a pass." World Cup Qualifier Play Off - "Let's make it about Mayo". More Mayo Misery. peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1520 - 27/03/2026 14:12:10 2663486 Link
Replying To peiledoir20: "World Cup Qualifier Play Off - "Let's make it about Mayo". More Mayo Misery." Indeed. The media are as bad, complicit in this absolute nonsence. Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1908 - 27/03/2026 14:57:17 2663497 Link