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Republic of Eire boss Stephen Kenny has insisted “nothing is inconceivable” as he plots Euro 2024 qualifying victories over European superpowers France and the Netherlands in September.
Kenny’s males belatedly opened their Group B account with a 3-0 victory over Gibraltar on the Aviva Stadium on Monday night to ease no less than slightly of the frustration of Friday evening’s 2-1 defeat in Greece.
Eire’s hopes of securing one of many prime two spots look forlorn except they’ll pull off a sequence of shock outcomes, however that’s precisely what Kenny intends to do.
FT | Three objectives, three factors #COYBIG | #IRLGIB pic.twitter.com/XIroeIq3RW
— Eire Soccer (@IrelandFootball) June 19, 2023
Requested what his message was to the gamers, he replied: “It’s a seven-day window simply, it’s a brief window. It’s France on a Thursday evening in Paris and Holland on a Sunday evening right here within the Aviva Stadium, so it’s a very, actually thrilling window.
“They’re two actually robust video games, there’s little question about it, however very thrilling video games. We’ve simply bought to ensure we’re nicely ready for them. They’re epic video games.
“On the similar time, nothing is inconceivable, that’s how we really feel about it.
“Clearly we pushed France very shut [at home]. I do know that is completely different in Paris, however it will likely be an attention-grabbing recreation for us and really thrilling, the 2 video games.”
Issues we like to see #COYBIG | #IRLGIB pic.twitter.com/VAD9gFPuiQ
— Eire Soccer (@IrelandFootball) June 19, 2023
For 45 minutes, Eire hammered away on the guests, however with out the craft, tempo or guile to interrupt them down, though it took a high quality response save from goalkeeper Dayle Coleing to disclaim Jamie McGrath seconds earlier than the break.
The sport modified, nevertheless, with Celtic winger Mikey Johnston’s half-time introduction and he had already sparked terror within the Gibraltar defence on three events when he ran on to Will Smallbone’s half-blocked free-kick and stabbed into the empty web for his first senior worldwide aim.
Evan Ferguson elevated the lead inside seven minutes and substitute Adam Idah lastly opened his Eire account in stoppage time to safe the primary factors of the marketing campaign on the third try.
Requested if Johnston, whose 4 caps up to now have come from the bench, might make the same influence over 90 minutes, Kenny stated: “He’s been terrific. Undoubtedly he can begin matches. I had it in my head that in all probability he was going to begin, but it surely didn’t occur for him in Greece.
“We’re nonetheless clearly a bit upset about Greece, we’re not getting away from that, we had been upset with that. It wasn’t his evening, actually, when he got here on, however he has terrific expertise, I actually respect his expertise.
“He’s a Celtic participant and it will likely be attention-grabbing if he goes again there or not, we’ll see how his profession goes over the summer season.”
Victory over the staff ranked 201st on the planet – Gibraltar have now misplaced 3-0 to all 4 of the opposite groups within the group – is unlikely to silence Kenny’s critics, but it surely no less than will get them off the mark.
Kenny stated: “We clearly made life troublesome for ourselves after Friday evening. However Greece are a great staff. They need to play Holland twice, we have now to play Holland twice, and France in France.
“For my part, France will win the group, so we simply need to have good September and October home windows.
“The return recreation with Greece shall be a distinct recreation, and clearly robust video games in opposition to Holland and France. However we nonetheless have each likelihood and we simply need to again ourselves in these home windows.”
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