Alan Browne insists Ireland have progressed under Stephen Kenny as Ogbene ruled out
Alan Browne insists Ireland have made progress under Stephen Kenny despite the manager’s reign entering its final week.
Saturday’s Euro qualifier in Amsterdam will be Ireland’s last of the campaign but their opponents Netherlands have another on Tuesday against Gibraltar for the win to be accrued to book their ticket to Germany.
Even if Ireland pounce on an injury-ravaged Dutch defence to nab their most high-profile away win in a qualifier since Scotland in 1987, it won’t improve their final position of fourth in the standings. France already wrapped up top spot in Group B with the Dutch three points away from claiming the second berth.
Browne has party-pooping motivation in mind but moreso the incentive of finishing a disappointing campaign with a semblance of respectability. Ireland have lost five games apart from their two wins over lowly Gibraltar.
"I've seen a lot of stuff in the media, a lot of criticism, and rightly so in terms of results,” said the Preston North End captain, set to start in midfield at the Johan Cruyff ArenA.
“It's been a tough one. With the group we got, we knew it was an uphill battle right from the start. I think, the teams we got, I think we were really unfortunate. Any other team would be unfortunate with it as well.
"But that's what you are up against, the best teams in the world. If you want to succeed you've got to beat them.
"In terms of performances I think we have come a long way. We can see that within the group. Hopefully it continues for a long time.
“Certainly since I first came in, in terms of team performances, we have definitely come a long way, we know that as players and staff. We have been in it together and just come up short in terms of results."
That’s all good and
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