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Stephen Kenny is certain that the Republic of Ireland has a solid foundation for a more promising future, even though their Euro 2024 performance in the Netherlands was disappointing.
Before the start of the match at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, Ireland was aware that they would not qualify for next summer’s finals as their slim chances of securing a play-off spot had been eliminated.
Their intention was to end the game with a notable victory against Ronald Koeman’s team, but in the end, they lost 1-0. The loss could have been much greater.
When questioned about his belief in the stability of the team after leading for three and a half years, during which there have been significant changes to the players, Kenny confidently stated that there certainly is a strong foundation in place.
“What other options were considered? If you can inform me… Throughout the years, many of our players have been relegated to lower divisions, so definitely. These are currently the top players for Ireland.”
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“They have faced a top-tier team, one of the strongest in Europe. It is a challenging match when playing in Holland, without a doubt.”
It has been a challenge for any Irish team to defeat a top-tier team like Holland in an away game. Despite having many talented teams in the past, this feat has not been achieved due to the immense difficulty of beating such a strong opponent in a qualifying match.
The end of the game was spectacular and you wouldn’t anticipate him scoring from that position, but it was an incredible finish and we were penalized.
Stephen Kenny, the manager of the Republic of Ireland, has recently agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in his role until 2024.
Wout Weghorst scored the winning goal in the contest with a 12th-minute strike. He skillfully got past Nathan Collins on the halfway line and then powered up the field to fire a shot past goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
Kenny stated that Ryan Manning and Nathan’s collision created an opportunity for Weghorst to score. Despite the surprising angle, Weghorst’s finish was excellent and they ended up getting punished.
The Hoffenheim striker, who is currently on loan at the Bundesliga team from Burnley, made a significant impact. However, the Dutch team was fortunate that their missed opportunities did not result in them conceding a goal. Despite multiple chances, the score remained unchanged.
However, Ireland did not produce any noteworthy response, except for substitute Adam Idah’s shot in the 59th minute. Unfortunately, the goal was disallowed due to offside, much to the relief of goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. He had initially let the Norwich striker’s shot slip through his legs.
Kenny’s team placed fourth in Group B, earning six points from wins against Gibraltar, who were heavily defeated by France with a score of 14-0. Many analysts predict that Kenny will not remain in his position after a review later this month, as his contract is set to end after the friendly match against New Zealand on Tuesday.
When asked about his experience as the leader, he responded that managing Ireland is a tremendous honor. He has consistently felt this way and remains grateful for the opportunity. Although it has been a ride filled with different emotions, he cherishes the chance to manage Ireland.
After securing the victory, Dutch coach Ronald Koeman was visibly relieved as it guaranteed their spot in the finals in Germany.
He stated, “We are certainly pleased to have secured a spot in the Euros. We successfully completed our task by winning against Ireland and Greece twice, though our losses to France made the away game against Ireland more challenging.”
We faced even more pressure during our match against Greece away, but we successfully completed the task that was expected of us. However, it was necessary for us to do so.
Source: independent.co.uk
