Thursday, 8 April, 2021 - 06:00
Luxembourg’s Gerson Rodrigues celebrates a famous goal against Ireland. Photograph: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile/Getty Images
London - Paul Doyle
Stephen Kenny said he did not want another gallant defeat. This historic ignominy was not what he had in mind. Gerson Rodrigues’s fierce long-range goal five minutes from time earned Luxembourg a famous win that leaves Ireland’s World Cup qualification ambitions hanging by the skimpiest of threads and Kenny under heavy pressure. His record as manager reads: played 10, won 0.
Kenny has been unlucky, never able to field a full-strength side, but Luxembourg, ranked 98th in the world, are the lowest-caliber opponents he has faced and were supposed to be the side against whom he oversaw his first win. Instead, Ireland flopped to a new low, with defeat the consequence of a grim performance. Meager skill, not much zest. Whereas there were positives amid Wednesday’s loss in Serbia, this was an unvarnished flop.