Xherdan Shaqiri ensures John O'Shea's Ireland reign ends in defeat
IRELAND 0
SWITZERLAND 1 (Xherdan Shaqiri 23)
Xherdan Shaqiri’s 30th international goal handed Switzerland their first friendly win over Ireland since 1948.
Yet time stood still for Ireland during this caretaker spell in which they failed to score over two games.
At least a new boss will be at the helm in June, albeit not Roberto Di Matteo despite the Champions League winning boss’ visit to Lansdowne Road commanding early chatter.
Any tenuous link will be indulged as the wait lurches into a fifth month.
He was born in Switzerland and, besides, doesn’t possess the international experience the FAI have cited as essential on the CV on the mystery man to be unveiled next month.
Let’s see how picky they really are but the glow around John O’Shea candidature didn’t sizzle. The next time we see him in FAI garb will likely be rerouted into an assistant’s berth.
This wasn’t the heavy on zeal fans anticipated in the aftermath of holding a better Belgium side scoreless on Saturday.
On the upside, debutant Finn Azaz showed off the bench in the dying embers he was a worthy debutant. In the midst of a late flurry he scurried into the box, only to see his shot blocked.
Not much else stood out on another night of frustration at the Dublin 4 venue, just under a different manager.
Technical advisor Brian Kerr offered a clue in advance as to the team selection by stressing O’Shea’s aversion to experimentation.
As the interim boss stated in his pre-match musings, his outlook was influenced by the brief.
Two games, 180 minutes and a mandate to lift a group demoralised by a succession of failures.
Wholesale changes from Saturday’s stalemate weren’t conducive to such missions, leading to tweaks rather than surgery.
Swapping Caoimhín
Read on irishexaminer.com
