Nov 16,2024
Luck, as it sometimes does, played its part in Ireland's 1-0 victory over Finland last night.
Reminiscent of the previous away fixture, where Ireland nearly conceded with a late Finnish header which narrowly missed the bottom corner, only for Robbie Brady to find the winner shortly after, last night's match echoed that uncanny twist of fate.
In a very open game where the balance of play swung often, Ireland had an element of luck on their side once again. Despite this often open performance, where Kelleher’s heroics, along with Finland hitting the post twice, I still found myself feeling we were deserving of the win.
That may seem odd, considering the visible gaps between our defence and midfield at times along with the heavy reliance on Kelleher’s double penalty save.
But there’s merit in the aggression that Heimer Halgrímsson’s team selection infused into the team. His choices for the evening, including a brave 4-4-2, demonstrated a front-foot mentality against a struggling Finnish side.
The most notable of his team selection was the pairing of Evan Ferguson and Sammie Szmodics in a traditional two-up-top.
When Szmodics was listed as a striker, I anticipated a hybrid role, one where he’d drop deeper to help our midfield two while linking with Ferguson in attack when the opportunities presented themselves.
But in reality, Szmodics operated as the higher forward, regularly stretching the Finland defence while Ferguson dropped into those deeper spaces to link the play.
This approach aimed to stretch the Finland defence but naturally left Ireland vulnerable in midfield – a risk that didn’t go unnoticed as the game unfolded. Szmodics was lively, his disallowed goal a fine example of the chemistry between the pair.
Ferguson’s perfectly weighted through-ball to Szmodics was a clear sign that there is a good balance in their styles of play which accommodate each other well, sadly Szmodics leaned offside just enough for the goal to be disallowed.
Still, it showcased a style and system that Halgrímsson is clearly eager to cultivate.
The balance felt precarious, though, the Finnish midfield winning the battle in the middle of the pitch.
This sense of vulnerability seemed only heightened by Ireland’s reliance on a slice of luck rather than a dominant, controlled performance. In a game that had a "whoever makes the least mistakes wins" kind of feel, it was Finland who suffered first.
A moment of poor decision-making from Kamara in not letting the ball roll out for a throw in led to a costly turnover.
Ireland capitalised swiftly, recycling the ball to Mikey Johnston on the left wing, whose bit of magic set up Ferguson to nod home the winner.
Ferguson’s header – athletic, precise, and opportunistic – embodied the forward’s increasing influence, cementing his importance as Ireland’s most genuine threat in attack. And yet, for all the good fortune that brought about Ireland’s goal, the real architect of the evening’s victory was Caoimhín Kelleher.
The Liverpool man has been in excellent form this season, seamlessly filling in for Alisson at club level and now shining for Ireland.
His penalty heroics, which involved not only the save from the penalty but an instant reflex on the rebound, was as crucial as any goal.
Kelleher’s performance stands as a testament to his growth, proving that Ireland’s depth in goal is an asset rather than a mere safety net. It might feel unsettling to count your goalkeeper as your best player, yet given Kelleher’s command of the box and unwavering presence, Ireland can rest assured that, even if offensive fluency takes time to develop, there’s a safe pair of hands at the back.
His performance against Finland was worthy of his player of the match status, and he will be vital as we face tougher tests.
With England to come on Sunday, it’s unlikely we’ll see Halgrímsson stick to the same formation.
The two-man strike force worked admirably in moments, but against a midfield trio like Jude Bellingham, Curtis Jones, and Conor Gallagher – the midfield starters in England’s 3-0 dismantling of Greece last night – a different strategy is imperative.
Leaving Ireland’s midfield vulnerable would be negligent, and the risk of an overload in that area of the pitch, against that quality of opposition is far too high.
A more conservative approach, with three in midfield, seems not only sensible but necessary. Last night was an experience builder, a game that tested Ireland’s mettle.
A more pragmatic and disciplined approach will be crucial against an England side that’s likely to dominate possession. Ireland rode their luck last night, but luck only plays a role when you position yourself to exploit it.
That’s exactly what Ireland did – they pressed well, took the chance that came their way from a Finland error and relied on the Premier League title-chasing goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet.
It may not be the hallmark of a polished side, but it’s the trait of a team aware of its limitations yet unafraid to scrap for every inch.
Facing England may expose some weaknesses, but if last night’s determined performance tells us anything, while Ireland continues to rebuild, it’s that team in green can take heart from their resourcefulness.
