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| April 19th 2005 |
Munich, Olympia Stadion
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| IRELAND - BELGIUM |
1-2 (1-0)
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GOALS 11' 1-0 Mark Lawrenson
69' 1-1 Raymond Braine
84' 1-2 Jan Ceulemans
REFEREE Said Belqola (Morocco)
ATTENDANCE 78,000
YELLOW CARDS Aldridge, Irwin, McGrath (IRE)
Thissen, Gerets, Dewalque (BEL)
RED CARDS Dewalque (BEL)
IRELAND (Coach: Jack Charlton, system 4-4-2)
1 Pat Bonner
3 John Carey (-76)
4 Mark Lawrenson
12 David O'Leary
2 Dennis Irwin
8 John Giles (-73)
5 Paul McGrath
13 Billy Whelan
7 Liam Brady (captain)
9 John Aldridge (-81)
10 Don Givens
Substitutes:
11 Steve Heighway (+73)
18 Tony Cascarino (+76)
20 Niall Quinn (+81)
BELGIUM (Coach: Guy Thijs, system 4-3-3)
1 Christian Piot
2 Eric Gerets (-48)
3 Armando Swartenbroeks (captain)
16 Nico Dewalque
19 Jean Thissen
8 Wilfried Van Moer
11 Jan Ceulemans (-78)
7 René Vandereycken
14 Raymond Braine
9 Jef Mermans
10 Rik Coppens (-86)
Substitutes:
12 Bob Paverick (+48)
6 Frank Vercauteren (+78)
18 Louis Carré (+86)
MATCHREPORT
With influential captain Roy Keane out because of the red card he had
received against France, Ireland faced the task of beating Belgium in their
last group match. Of course they had confidence in their own abilities and
were convinced that they could put Belgium under such pressure, that the
Red Devils would break down. Coach Charlton moved Paul McGrath from defence
to midfield to make up for the loss of Keane. In defence now Mark Lawrenson
got a place. Two strikers again for Ireland and Charlton chose Aldridge and
Givens to do the damage. In the Belgian team sweeper Laurent Verbiest was
cautioned twice in the earlier matches and wasn't available. Nico Dewalque
stood in. Coach Thijs again left big star Van Himst on the bench. He had
been very satisfied with the performance of threesome Braine, Mermans and
Coppens and decided to leave it that way.
The Olympia Stadion witnessed one of the most emotional matches in the
competition until this moment. The Irish gave it all during the full 90
minutes, Belgium wouldn't give in and the result was a fierce game, at a
magnificent speed, with some brutal fouls but also with great play. Ireland
used John Aldridge as their targetman and Charlton expected his midfielders
to join him up front whenever possible. Stand-in captain Liam Brady, Billy
Whelan and Johnny Giles got through an enormous amount of work and covered
many kilometres. Ceulemans and Van Moer, though both were able to run for
the full distance themselves, had a tough time and Vandereycken had to break
into all his tactical insight to prevent himself from being overrun. All in
all Ireland were the better team in the beginning.
It led to a fabulous shot by Giles that struck the underside of the bar
behind Christian Piot. It was a kind of "1966 Wembley Goal" but this time
the referee and linesman had seen no goal. But minutes later the bells rang.
Brady's free kick from the right was headed in by Mark Lawrenson. Piot had
no chance on the low ball that went in from the post: 1-0. Belgium answered
with an attack by Raymond Braine. The skillful outside right, already
successful against France, dribbled past Irwin but his cross was defended
into corner by Lawrenson. From the following corner Belgium created new
danger but after a heavy scrimmage Pat Bonner ended up as the winner. In the
meantime it was a real fight and before the first 30 minutes were over
Aldridge and Irwin had received a yellow card from referee Belqola, as well
as Thissen and Gerets on the side of Belgium.
Play kept on going up and down the field for the rest of the first half and
just before the break Ireland got the ultimate chance to double the lead.
Nico Dewalque couldn't follow Don Givens and tripped him from behind, just
inside the box. Belqola pointed to the spot. Dennis Irwin, who had converted
a penalty against Chile, was the man to pull the triggger again but
Christian Piot chose the right corner. The shot came half high but Piot
brilliantly was there in time and tipped it to corner.
That was a fatal moment for Ireland and from that moment on Belgium were the
better team. Mentally and physically strong they were able to put Ireland
under pressure. The Irish had given a lot during the first 45 minutes, still
tried to hang on but it appeared that Belgium had the better players. They
knew they had to score at least once and though coach Thijs had to replace
injured Eric Gerets with Bob Paverick they became stronger and stronger.
Belgium were chasing Ireland all over the pitch now. Ceulemans, Vandereycken
and Van Moer now didn't allow their opponents to squeeze through. And
chances came, too. Mermans headed towards goal, Bonner kept it out. McGrath
deflected a shot from Coppens, it went just wide. Soon after a blast from
Thissen went over the bar, Bonner would have had no chance. The equalizer
was never far away and it came in the 69th minute.
It was Braine who tore the Irish wall down. And he did it in a way that
looked like how he scored against France. Put free by Van Moer he penetrated
into the box and scored at the first post. It looked as if Bonner could have
done better. The match seemed to go the other way when Givens broke through
after a great pass by Liam Brady, Ireland's best player this night. The
striker went towards goal with only Piot to beat, but was fouled from behind
by Dewalque. Belqola could do nothing else than send the sweeper off. All
that left Ireland was a free kick but Brady found the fists of Piot on his
way. Chance gone, possible win and qualification gone.
Belgium could play for a draw but still chose to try for all three points.
Despite being a man down they were now on top and unlike many Belgian teams
in the past, preferred the attack over defence. And based on their better
performance in the second half they deserved the win. And when 6 minutes
from time Ceulemans, after a fine move by Vandereycken and a great pass,
found a way through O'Leary and McGrath to beat Bonner with a low shot,
Belgium could start partying. Though Charlton had brought three strikers in
the last 15 minutes Ireland couldn't find their way through the strong
Belgian defence. The win was an impressive one for Thijs' men and Belgium
had fought themselves back into the tournament after losing the first match
against France. Finishing second in the group Belgium would travel to Paris
for an appointment with the winner of group H, most likely Brazil, still a
horse of another colour. Ireland left the tournament with their heads up
high, they had done everything they could, but in the end France and Belgium
were the better teams.
Next Friday we will have the last two games in group H. Brazil are still not
100% sure of the next round despite convincing throughout their first two
matches. They play Northern Ireland in Yokohama. Needless to say that the
Irish, on three points after beating Cameroon, need a win. Brazil will most
likely play with a lot of the second choice players, but with guns like Jairzinho,
Zico and Romario in your team you would still be among the favourites. Even
Cameroon, though they have a disastreous goal difference, can still reach
the secound round. If they beat Portugal they will finish on three points,
just like the Portuguese and most likely Northern Ireland. Just the goal
difference would be decisive then. Cameroon are without suspended Geremi but
are in a good mood and will try what they can. Portugal are convinced they
will reach the second round, did well so far and coach Gloria isn't expected
to change much. Northern Ireland-Brazil will have Gottfried Dienst as
referee. In Montevideo, where Portugal and Cameroon meet, John Langenus is
in charge.
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