O'Shea era starts with Belgium test
Newly appointed interim head coach John O'Shea at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
A FEW months ago, the promise of two home friendlies against illustrious ranked opposition in the shape of Belgium (tonight) and Switzerland (Tuesday), along with the chance to cast an eye over our new manager (which would have certainly been sorted out by then) would have had us excitedly looking forward to a new era in Irish football.
Well time has moved on, but the addled istration of Irish football continues, with us apparently no closer to knowing who our new manager is four months after Stephen Kenny’s departure.
And if that isn’t let down enough, the fans will also be denied the chance to witness a couple of the best talents in the world with the departures of Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku from the Belgium squad due to injuries. Which in itself raises the question of the validity of having international friendlies at all just as the European leagues are reaching the most critical stage of their season and need every one of their stars to be fit and at home for the coming race to the title. But that’s an issue for another column someday.
As for the Irish management we certainly are getting some déjà vu vibes from it and that’s not just the recall of Robbie Brady to the squad. No it’s mostly down to legendary Waterford-born, former Irish international John O’Shea returning to the camp for his managerial debut, backed up with the experience of former Irish boss and fan-favourite, Brian Kerr.
The brief for this management team is just for an interim run at the helm, as if Kenny’s departure came as a surprise to the FAI rather than a fact for pushing on half a year now. But this is what we are left with and maybe if results can go extremely well, then the problem for the FAI being unable to find a credible candidate for the top Irish coaching position solves itself.
A few years ago, the thought of entrusting the Irish manager’s job to someone with such limited senior coaching experience as O’Shea would seem impossible. But nowadays, after the disappointment of the Kenny era and the reluctance of others to fill his shoes, we have become happy to accept anyone willing to take on role.
As unsure as this climate in Irish football is, there is still some things to look forward to as O’Shea looks to blood, and maybe more importantly assure caps, for some promising young and not so young talent.
Sammie Szmodics, Cork’s Jake O’Brien, and Finn Azaz have all being drafted into the Irish squad and should be guaranteed some game time for a first cap.
Szmodics, in particular, will be given game-time as The Championship top-scorer with Blackburn Rovers does have the potential to declare his allegiance with Hungary or England where he was born. Not that Szmodics would, as he has clearly spoke of his love for this country. But as our experience with Messrs Rice and Grealish has thought us delaying in handing out full caps can prove costly.
28-year old Szmodics is a bit of a late bloomer, but has flourished this season with his Lancashire town scoring 27 goals so far this term. 21 in The Championship itself.
As mentioned, young Cork-born star Jake O’Brien should also make an appearance after his impressive run with French giants Lyon that has seen him score four goals. Ironically, O’Brien making a name for himself after his loan period with Belgium side RWD Molenbeek.
This Irish squad still has a strong Cork profile despite the injury of John Egan and absence of Alan Browne, with Caoimhin Kelleher, Adam Idah, and Chiedozie Ogbene all likely to get game time due to their recent good form in England and Scotland.
While the absence of de Bruyne and Lukaku takes a bit of the shine off the encounter, Belgium will still have an enviable squad of top international club players like Youri Tielemans, Jeremy Doku, Amadou Onana, Arthur Theate, Jan Vertonghen, and Koen Casteels available against the Irish.
In Ireland’s favour, is that we tend to play well against the Lowland nation. We have played the Kingdom 16 times with the Belgians winning six and Ireland winning four, and the remainder ending in draws. Including the last time we met them in a friendly back in 2022, when it ended 2-2 and was one of the best results of the Kenny management era when Alan Browne scored a late equaliser for the Irish, in a game many felt was a turning point for the team, but sadly proved to be another false dawn.
A big performance tonight would be interesting Could it be the dawn of a new era for the O’Shea/Kerr axis and for Irish football?
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