Ireland's Josh Cullen eager to atone for error against France
Footage of Ireland’s home defeat to France will air in the coming days and the most disconcerting element will be the source of the winning goal.
Josh Cullen is regarded by his club Burnley and country of Ireland as Mr Reliable, the midfielder whose calmness in possession radiates to teammates.
To see him release an errand pass on the edge of his box that Benjamin Pavard capitalised on to arrow a shot into Gavin Bazunu’s top corner was tantamount to an aberration.
“It hurt at that moment and because you care so much it hurt for a few days,” explains Cullen, two days out from looking to make amends in the return Euro qualifier.
“As a player I try to set myself high standards and analyse my game. A moment like that doesn’t need too much analysing. I made a mistake.
“That can be difficult to take, especially in a game for your country of that magnitude.
“You only have one chance to make that split-second decision and not every decision you make on a football pitch will be right.
“Facing the quality of opposition of the level of France, you’re going to get punished.”
For that, he cannot be vilified.
Nobody questioned his determination when emerging through the West Ham United ranks displaying similar characteristics to Mark Noble, neatness and tidiness in abundance, but he had to develop a deeper streak when Plan A was parked.
Eight years passed between his Premier League debut at Anfield for the Hammers and making a comeback to that stage as the captain and midfield mainstay of Burnley.
Five lower-league loan spells and a year with his current boss Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht moulded the 27-year-old into the leader capable of compartmentalising the emotions.
Both Burnley, three games into their top-flight return
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