Full-time scores
Full-time
Late goals in Sweden and Switzerland. Rodrigo’s for Spain sees them qualify for the Euros, while the latter just makes things worse Ireland.
Check out all the FT scoresHERE.
GOAL! Switzerland 2-0 Republic of Ireland (Fernandes, 3)
The ball arrives at Fernandes ’feet in the box, he sidefoots it towards goal, Duffy tries to stop it but only steers it into the back of the net.
GOAL! Sweden 1-1 Spain (Rodrigo, 2)
The ball is smashed across goal where it seems like everyone on the pitch is waiting but Rodrigo is the man to react as he jabs the ball home.
90 mins:Switzerland break but it comes to nothing. Three minutes added on.
89 mins:Spain are trying to find an equaliser but this mainly involves passing the ball side-to-side. Sweden’s defense has been excellent throughout.
87 mins: Michael Meagher says:“If that pass had found its man it would have been a thing of beauty.” As Barry Glendenning of your parish likes to say: “If my aunt had balls she’d be my uncle. ”
I am sure people other than Baz say that. Additionally, I am just trying to find positives in this Irish positive.
Updated
85 mins:Switzerland are just keeping the ball here, as they also look tired, so do not want to strain themselves.
82 mins:The Irish are trying to put pressure on the ball but the state of the pitch seems to have tired them sufficiently.
80 mins:With only 10 men on the pitch, can Ireland salvage anything here? No.
Classic Jolly
Richard Jolly(@ RichJolly)
Seamus Coleman had not been sent off for eight years. Now he’s been sent off in his last game for both club and country.
(October) , 2019
77 mins: PENALTY SAVED!Rodriguez sends a low penalty to Randolph’s left but the goalkeeper gets a big hand on it, tipping the ball onto the post.
Updated
RED CARD! Coleman
76 mins:Penalty! Switzerland have a penalty after an Embolo shot is adjudged to have been blocked by Coleman’s hand, which results in him being sent off.
After being 2-0 down against Georgia, Gibraltar have pulled it back to 2-2 !!!
74 mins:Duffy does it best to whack a simple pass out of play when he misdirects it but Stevens recovers the ball just in time. Ireland need to up things here.
GOAL! Liechtenstein 0-2 Italy (Belotti, 70)
The Italians finally have a second after Belotti heads home a corner.
71 mins:Browne sends a long pass down the pitch for Hogan to chase but it is intercepted before the striker can get to it. If that pass had found its man it would have be a thing of beauty.
69 mins:Duffy will miss Ireland’s next match after receiving a yellow following a tough but, in my opinion, fair challenge on Akanji. That’s a blow for McCarthy. Hogan is on for Ireland, replacing Connolly.
67 mins:Oyarzabal curls in a free-kick but Sweden clear, only for a second cross to be sent into the box which a diving Moreno flicks wide.
64 mins:Rodriguez whips in a corner which Schar rises highest for, only to see his head hit the outside of the post. Embolo whacks the ball across the six-yard box but Ireland manage to clear the danger.
(mins) : Oyarzabal gets on the end of a Carvajal cross but he heads the ball up and over.
61 mins:Egan is up for a set-piece and in the end he gets the ball on the edge of the area, where he turns, only to drag a shot wide. Ireland have looked better since the break, mainly as they are playing with some intent rather than just whacking it long.
Updated (at 4.) PM EDT
(mins:) De Gea looks to have done his hamstring and is being replaced by Kepa . Not good news for Manchester United ahead of their clash with Liverpool at the weekend. I hope Lee Grant is fit.
Updated
58 mins :It is pretty fair by the looks of things, it was just the opening sixth of the game which was underwhelming.
Jesper Haglund(@ Kajehase)
@ Will_UnwinI’m biased, but Sweden being a goal up actually feels like a fair reflection of the game. Just worried it was too early, in case the goal makes the Spanish players wake up.
(October) , 2019
56 mins:Embolo tries to break through the Irish midfield but is crudely brought down by Hendrick, who goes into the book. The striker looks hurt after also being caught by Whelan on his way down. Xhaka smacks the free-kick from 30 yards just over.
54 mins:Sweden barely had a kick in the opening 15 minutes but since then have created a number of chances and would already be ahead if it wasn’t for the magnificence of De Gea, who has plenty of experience of keeping his club in games.
52 mins:Mandy Deen says: “I just wanted to write in, as a Swiss, to provide some balance on the liveblog. I will predict there is a 80% chance Xhaka gets a red card before the end of the game and Ireland equalize. Also when is Embolo going to score in a game I’m watching? I hear such buzz about him but have yet to see him score for Switzerland! Also to say hello to my Irish boyfriend who is sad and following along at work (as am I).
“HOPP SCHWIIZ !!”
Glad I am bringing lovers together.
GOAL! Sweden 1-0 Spain (Berg, 50)
A chipped cross into the box is headed at goal by Berg but De Gea does well to palm it out, only for Forsberg to send it back towards the net, allowing Berg to head the ball home.
Updated
49 mins: (Coleman spends) seconds turning himself inside out on his own byline before Embolo puts him out of his misery and gives Ireland a goal kick.
Fred the Leopard(@ FredLeopard)
@ Will_Unwinwould you go as far as to refer to this Irish performance as akin to sizzleless sausages, all suet filler and no meaty thriller (veggie fillings are available)
(October) , 2019
Ultimately, yes, it is rubbish.
47 mins:McCarthy brought on O’Dowda for Collins at the break, which might make a difference. Connolly is now down the middle. O’Dowda makes an early impact by going past Akanji, forcing the defender to bring him down, earning a yellow for his troubles.
Justin Kavanagh reminisces:“During the Charlton years Ireland’s groundsmen were told to leave the grass grow long so the ball would hold up when pumped long into the corners. But these days, the Aviva groundkeepers probably neglect their grass-cutting duties to avoid any danger of being given free tickets to watch this dross. ”
I would not go very far to watch this, that’s for sure.
Pass the break with Marvin Sordell …
Paul Fitzgerland emails to say: “While it’s hard to say as an Irishman, Ireland losing is at least just considering our approach to any game, just look at the Gibraltar match. Our game has always been about our backs to the wall but usually with a bit of guile or some tempo. These stodgy displays means that unfortunately if we don’t make the finals, no one will miss us. ”
I also watched the Gibraltar and Georgia games and they’ve been utterly awful throughout.
Half-time
Ireland have offered very little and are deservedly behind in Switzerland. Nothing very interesting is happening elsewhere.
Check out the HT scoresHERE.
45 mins:JR says:“You should have said Lichtsteiner is a well known acting threat, not attacking threat. Dude’s a troublemaker. So is Xhaka. So is Schar. Hopefully one of them get sent off.
“As an Ireland supporter I’m not in the best mood right now but Peter Oh’s Adrian jape made me chuckle.”
Peter claims he was not joking …
44 mins:Mick McCarthy is on the sideline shouting “Forward! Forward! ”Which should solve all of Ireland’s problems.
Lichtsteiner goes down once again. He just loves making the most of a challenge. Seferovic chests one down in the area but then smashes the ball 344888 yards over from close range.
42 mins:Whelan swings in a cross for Ireland from the left, which Duffy heads straight into the ‘keeper’s arms.
Geneva pitch update: it has cut up and looks rubbish.
Updated
40 mins:I have a lot of time for John O’Shea referring to everyone by their first name on commentary.
38 mins:Schar gets on the end of a headed clearance, sets himself up for a shot but curls the ball just wide from 25 yards out.
Karl Ruben Weseth asks:“This might be too niche, but: If you have any Hull fans in your audience tonight, maybe they can let me know exactly how ill-advised they think it’s been of Grant McCann to freeze out Henriksen this season. Only asking because he’s been immense so far for Norway this international break, especially for a player who has had club minutes so far this fall (he means autumn).
“Also, to answer Glenn Kuly’s question about Kepa: he did give away an 90 minute penalty in the last game, that might have had something to with him being left out for the Sweden game. ”
Updated
36 mins:McCarthy has changed things around and his side are now operating with a flat back four and Connolly playing on the left of midfield.
34 mins:Lichtsteiner goes down under aerially pressure from Browne. The Veteran defender rolls around on the floor like he’s been elbowed but the replay shows the midfielder barely touched him. Browne is still booked, though.
32 mins:Coleman and Xhaka have a bit of afters following a foul, resulting in them both being booked and the Irishman accusing the Arsenal midfielder of being lippy.
The Stellarossa(@ TheStellaRossa)
@ Will_Unwinis Big Mick looking through Big Jack’s Euro ’88 diary and passing parroting tactics from that? Is Maurice Setters alongside him on the bench?
I was only born in 1987, so I will just blindly agree.
30 mins:Well-known attacking threat Lichtsteiner drives inside with the ball where there is lots of space, then whacks one with his left foot from 25 yards but drags it well wide.
28 mins:Peter Oh says:“Re: Glenn Kuly’s question about Spain’s goalkeeping. Yes Kepa, sure De Gea. But what does Adrian have to do to get a look in? Arguably the best Spanish keeper in the Premier League at the moment. Disclaimer: Asked by a Liverpool fan. ”
Let’s not be silly, Pete.
26 mins:A rare foray forward for Sweden earns them a corner but it barely clears the first man and is whacked up field by the Spanish defense. They then get into the box once more but Berg is crowded out and the ball once again whacked away. Lustig does finally test De Gea with a low drive but the goalkeeper does well to hold.
24 mins:Embolo is looking bright for Switzerland – in order to stop the striker, Hendrick takes three attempts to tackle him but only succeeds in committing a foul . The hosts get a free-kick around 25 yards from goal but nothing comes of it.
22 mins:The pitch does not seem to have been much of a leveller for Ireland, as Switzerland have adapted to the conditions far better, while the visitors just seem to be knocking it long.
20 mins:Olsen dives to his right to palm away a downward header from Gerard Moreno, making his debut for Spain tonight.
Glenn Kuly ponders:“Any idea why De Gea, not Arrizabalaga, is in net for Spain tonight ? Disclaimer: asked by a Chelsea fan. ”
I think there is just a process of rotation with Spain at the moment, they’ve made a few changes to the team.
18 mins:The Spain defense are really boosting their passing stats tonight by spending most of the game knocking it back and forth to each other.
GOAL! Switzerland 1-0 Republic of Ireland (Seferovic, 16)
The ball is knocked down to Seferovic on the edge of the box, he gets it onto his left foot and arrows a shot into the corner beyond Randolph.
Updated (at 3.) PM EDT
15 mins:Darren Randolph’s once yellow kit is now a dark brown color thanks to his diving around. He might need to change that at the break. Switzerland chuck a cross into the box but that is not an issue for Egan.
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