Tag Archives: republic of ireland

Um.

This afternoon.

Ted writes

Last ticket in the Aviva for Ireland vs Portugal on November 11th for anyone here. Can I sit on your lap?

Republic of Ireland Vs Portugal (Ticketmaster)

Meanwhile…

Ah here.

Republic of Ireland footballer Callum Robinson

This morning.

Via The Times:

‘...Only journalists with the vaccine were allowed to attend the press conference where Callum Robinson, who plays for West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, appeared on Tuesday. Republic of Ireland Under-21 players were also warned earlier this week that they could miss out on international football unless they were vaccinated for a forthcoming game against Montenegro — which is on a UK red list — but as senior manager Stephen Kenny is adopting a flexible approach.

“We’re not in a position where we can insist on it and we have to respect individuals’s rights as well. That is something that we have to learn to live with,” Kenny said, after being asked would he consider not selecting a player who hadn’t been vaccinated. “That would be very, very strong and sort of be a fairly radical standpoint. At the moment I don’t think that I would do that.”

Asked how many of the current squad of 26 are vaccinated, Kenny replied: “I don’t have an exact number at the moment, but there are a number. A lot of them have been done recently.”

Meanwhile…

Robinson said: “There are managers and people that will want you to do it which is right in their way, the way they think, but everyone has their choice and what they want to do. I wouldn’t force people to do it. It’s your choice and your body.”

Callum Robinson defends decision not to get vaccinated (The Times)

Pic: Sky Sports

Meanwhile…

The League is understood to have last week sent an email to its 20 clubs that said that, according to data it had, only seven of the squads were more than 50% fully vaccinated, “so we have a way to go”.

The email, as initially reported by the Telegraph, continued: “We are considering if and how best we can ‘reward’ those squads/players who are most Covid-compliant and who have opted to be vaccinated.

Premier League consider ‘reward’ to boost vaccination rates (RTÉ)

This afternoon.

Via Irish Examiner:

“A number of players have had vaccines,” Kenny said in Dublin on Thursday afternoon. “Some haven’t, some have had one. In England the AstraZeneca has a long period between the first and second doses. Some players have been caught after the first one and some players decided not to get it.”

“We’d want everyone vaccinated, but players are men as individuals. They have the right to make their own decisions and you have to respect that. In an ideal world we’d prefer to have everyone vaccinated but we have to respect the individual wishes.”

Republic of Ireland manager Stepehen Kenny.

Stephen Kenny confirms some Republic of Ireland players have opted against Covid vaccine (Irish Examiner)

Last night.

Budapest, Hungary.

After his Republic of Ireland players were booed before the teams played out a goalless draw against Hungary, manager Stephen Kenny said:

“The fact it was booed is incomprehensible really, and it must be damaging for Hungary, with the Euros in Hungary.

“It’s disappointing and it doesn’t reflect well on Hungary really, on Hungarian support. It doesn’t reflect well.

“Our players wanted to do it. It’s important. It’s an important stance and I commend them for taking that stance.

“I think it was the right decision. I approached [the Football Association of Ireland’s international operations manager] Barry Gleeson and said it was something we wanted to do, take the knee, and I think it’s a very important message.”

Alternatively.

Stephen Kenny: Republic of Ireland boss brands Hungary fans who booed his players taking a knee as ‘incomprehensible’ (Sky)

Meanwhile…

Beautiful game, in fairness.

Last night.

Bratislava, Slovakia.

The Republic of Ireland football team has missed out on a place in the European Championship finals….

Elimination was all the more agonising for Ireland because in the preceding 120 minutes they performed with a style that justified Kenny’s belief in their creative potential

Agony for Republic of Ireland as they lose penalty shootout in Slovakia (Guardian)

Meanwhile…

In fairness.

Rotherham United winger Chiedozie Ogbene

This morning.

Via RTÉ Sport:

The FAI have begun the paperwork on the eligibility process for 23-year-old Ogbene who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but moved to Cork aged seven with his family in 2005.

He played schoolboy football in Cork with College Corinthians, Kilreen Celtic, Tramore Athletic and Everton before he was signed by Cork City in 2015 and then moved to Limerick in January 2017.

After a move to England and Brentford in 2018, Ogbene spent a season on loan with Exeter City before a transfer to Rotherham in August 2019.

Chiedozie Ogbene declares for Republic of Ireland (RTÉ)

Chiedozie Ogbene

[Kick Click to enlarge]

Literally beating them at their own game.

Name those 9 players (left to right), anyone?

Yesterday: All Decked Up