Republic of Ireland vs Greece. European Championship Qualifying Group B.
Aviva StadiumAttendance41,239.
Match report as the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2024 automatic qualification hopes ended; Stephen Kenny's side beaten 2-0 at home by Greece after Giorgos Giakoumakis and Georgios Masouras score first-half goals; Ireland sit second bottom in Group B with just one win from six games
Saturday 14 October 2023 09:17, UK
Beleaguered Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny declined to discuss his future after a deeply damaging 2-0 home defeat by Greece finally ended hopes of automatic qualification for Euro 2024.
Kenny's reign seemingly reached the point of no return on Friday night when a 2-0 home defeat by Greece left his team with just three points from a possible 18 in Group B and mathematically unable to clinch a place in the top two.
Ireland head for Gibraltar on Monday evening with only pride at stake and while Kenny received assurances last week that he would remain in charge until after next month's fixtures, discontent with the direction of travel under his charge has reached fever pitch.
Kenny's side could still make it to next summer's tournament via the play-offs but that looks highly unlikely given their poor Nations League ranking.
The loss leaves Ireland second bottom in Group B with their only win in six qualifying games against minnows Gibraltar, adding more pressure to Kenny.
In his post-match press conference when asked about his tenure, Kenny said: "I'm not going to use this to speak about that.
"Ultimately of course we're disappointed. We knew it was a group of death, tough games. France, Holland, really tough. We had epic games against both of them."
Their fifth defeat of a dismal Euro 2024 qualification campaign came despite a positive start in Dublin as Evan Ferguson, who missed last month's fixtures with a knee injury, hit the post in the fifth minute.
But in the 20th minute, the visitors took the lead through ex-Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis as he headed in Liverpool defender Konstantinos Tsimikas' fine cross.
Greece then made it two in first-half stoppage time as Georgios Masouras finished low past goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
Ireland rarely threatened Greece in the second half as Gus Poyet's side held on to move second in Group B above the Netherlands, who were defeated 2-1 at home by France after a Kylian Mbappe double.
The chances of Ireland making it to Euro 2024 were effectively ended last month when they were beaten by Group B rivals France and the Netherlands, but the game against Greece offered the chance for them to finish the campaign strongly.
Ireland were missing star striker Ferguson for September's qualifiers but he was restored to the starting line-up on Friday night in a huge boost for Kenny.
The Brighton teenager then nearly had the desired impact as he struck the post with a left-footed curling shot from outside the box a minute after Will Smallbone forced a save from Greece goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
But, despite a bright start, Ireland found themselves behind with 20 minutes gone when Tsimikas crossed nicely for the unmarked Giakoumakis to head powerfully past Bazunu.
The Ireland goalkeeper was alert 17 minutes later to deny Dimitris Pelkas' shot inside the box after he received a clever reverse pass from Giakoumakis.
But Greece did make it 2-0 in the fourth minute of stoppage time through Masouras as he pounced on a Pelkas mis-hit from Giakoumakis' cross.
It was a damaging blow just seconds before the half-time whistle which killed any hope of an Ireland comeback as Kenny's side laboured in the second half.
Matt Doherty had their best chance in the 83rd minute as he drew a decent save from Vlachodimos with a header at the back post.
The full-time whistle was then met with some boos as Ireland face bottom side Gibraltar in Faro on Monday with Kenny under serious pressure.
Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny:
"You shouldn't be losing at home to Greece. They are a good team, better than people think they are, technically very good with good qualities.
"We needed to win, I know that."
Asked if the results in these two fixtures could change the Football Association of Ireland's stance of him remaining in charge until the end of the campaign whatever happened, Kenny replied: "No, I don't think so.
"We're committed to that process of reviewing the whole of the qualification process in November."
Ex-Republic of Ireland international Stephen Kelly speaking on Sky Sports News on Kenny's future as Ireland boss:
"I think Stephen Kenny when he came in, there was so much goodwill, a manager coming from the domestic league, everybody wanted him to succeed.
"He had this mantra of wanting to rip up Irish football and play from the back with a possession-based style - that's fantastic, it's a great idea and it's the way the game is moving on, but was it going to work? It hasn't.
"You look at Greece and look at the way they played, and they were comfortable in that game tonight. Ireland never really tested them, and they should have and they have players that are capable, but they just lacked a little bit of identity and forward thinking.
"Ireland went to four at the back, but there wasn't any cohesion or inventiveness from the play.
"Going forward, I would think that at the end of this campaign that that's probably it [for Kenny]. I'm not too sure he's going continue on as the manager.
"I think they're probably looking at candidates now to go forward, but there's still a couple of games left. Could he turn things around? I would say that's probably slim."
Chiedozie Ogbene has admitted he feels sorry for under-fire Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny after his lingering hopes of Euro 2024 qualification were finally dashed.
Asked about the manager's future, Luton striker Ogbene reflected on early chances which went begging and said: "Had we scored those chances, then the game would be different.
"We would have been 2-0 up. But we didn't take those chances and a positive start ends up negatively.
"I actually feel sorry for the manager. We were not sharp in our decision-making and overall it is disappointing, the result."
Republic of Ireland are back in Euro 2024 qualifying action on Monday as they face Gibraltar away; kick-off 7.45pm.
Stephen Kenny's side then return to action in November with a Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on November 18 followed by a friendly against New Zealand in Dublin on November 21.
