NO-ONE deserved it more or wanted it more, but Seamus Coleman’s chance of playing at a World Cup has gone. There won’t be another and he knows that.
That’s the brutal reality for Ireland’s talisman.
When Ireland went 2-0 up in Prague on Thursday night a place in a play-off final against Denmark with the Aviva rocking seemed there for the taking. Like his team-mates, Coleman gave all he had but, thanks to a bit of bad luck, some bad choices and the frame of the Czechia goal, it wasn’t quite enough and the home side went through in the penalty shootout
Coleman is likely to bow out as a Republic player against North Macedonia, who lost their play-off semi-final against Denmark, on Tuesday but it isn’t about him, he said.
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“It’s more disappointing for the lads, disappointing for the fans,” explained the Everton veteran.
“We still had a big hurdle on Tuesday night coming back home but we would have felt in a great place. On the professional side, you have to learn from that, everyone has to learn from that.
“2-0 up… The game is there for us and we let it get away from us.
“We were 2-0 up in the game and very disappointed to let them back into it. You probably shouldn’t let them back into the game when you go 2-0 up away from home. “Taking the emotion out of it, that’s the first thing I would say.
“It was there for us but at this level you’ve got to keep going, all the small details matter. 2-0 up… We should have kept our foot on the gas and made better decisions at times, it’s very easy to come out and say it’s emotional and the fans are great.
“We know they are, but we’re disappointed to let them back in.”
Crucial moments cost Ireland. As Coleman said, they were 2-0 up when Ryan Manning panicked and pulled a Czech jersey in the box to concede a penalty. Patrik Schick scored it to give the Czech’s belief and sap Ireland’s confidence. Then, after Caoimhin Kelleher’s save had given them an advantage in the shootout, Finn Azaz’s spot kick was saved and when Alan Browne also missed that was that.
“To go 2-0 up away from home, you couldn’t ask for a better start,” said the Killybegs native.
“At the minute it is tough to take, we probably left it behind us to be honest.
“Plenty of teams from the 2002 World Cup to now, some amazing players, have never got to the World Cup.
“The lads from October onwards really stepped up to the mark but unfortunately, as a group, all of us, we didn’t see it out tonight. It’s very hard to dissect but we have to dust ourselves down, the younger lads have to dust themselves down, and go again.
Republic of Ireland players look on during the penalty shootout against Czechia at Fortuna Arena. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)
Republic of Ireland players look on during the penalty shootout against Czechia at Fortuna Arena. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)(Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)
“They’ve stepped up. They’re all getting older, they’re all getting caps under their belt, they had to step up, that’s the reality of it, and they have done.
“This will be hard to take, it will be hard to swallow and it will be one that will linger for a while. Yeah… we’re very disappointed.”
Coleman was left out of the Republic squad for the first two group games against Hungary (2-2) and Armenia (2-1 loss) but returned to galvanise and inspire his team-mates to a battling loss in Lisbon and then three wins in-a-row which rose to a crescendo with the 3-2 victory in Prague that set up Thursday night’s play-off.
“The fans are incredible, they really are,” he said.
“As professionals to go 2-0 up, that’s the takeaway from it, and to let them back into it... “We’ve got to swallow it. We’re very disappointed we’re sending them home without that buzz but we’re thankful they got here any way they could and showing us that love and support that they have done, the lads will hopefully bounce back.”