The Republic of Ireland's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 were dealt a blow following a 2-1 defeat to Greece in Athens. Here's how the players rated.
Gavin Bazunu - 8
The goalkeeper's performance can be summed up by the opening ten minutes as he produced a string of excellent saves to stop Greece from scoring. The pick of the bunch came from a corner that Konstantinos Mavropanos tried to turn in from close range. He instantly reacted to claw the ball out and keep the score-line reading 0-0.
Matt Doherty - 6
There were no signs of cobwebs on the legs of a player that played just a handful of minutes for Atletico Madrid. He dominated the right wing and ran all night, and won Ireland the corner that led to the equaliser. It was a great night for the full-back that was undone by getting sent off in injury time.
Callum O’Dowda - 4
It was a mixed evening for the full-back, with the defender immediately starting on the back foot as his hand gave away the penalty that made it 1-0. His night got worse at the start of the second half as he failed to track the run of Giorgos Masouras after he ran onto a pass from Tasos Bakasetas. Ireland were carved open and the second goal was self-inflicted.
John Egan - 6
The defender did everything he was supposed to and more as he went up top in added time. Another solid performance from one of the most consistent players in Stephen Kenny’s team.
Nathan Collins - 8
The praise should be coming from the goal that made it 1-1, but that is not his primary role. The defender by trade made a number of blocks and interceptions that stopped Greece from playing through.
Darragh Lenihan - 6
The defender was a surprise addition in the starting XI and he did what he could during a night that saw Ireland pushed right into their half. He slotted right in and dealt with every ball that was sent his way.
Josh Cullen - 6
The midfielder had very little time to impose his actual style of play as Ireland rarely left their own half. His job was covering the defence as they looked to stop a Greece team that was controlling possession from the very first minute. He did what he was asked, but little else given the flow of the game.
Jason Molumby - 5
The midfielder had a quiet night, and produced nothing too specular. He spent the game closing down and filling holes on the pitch, but did very little in an attacking sense.
Will Smallbone - 8
The midfielder played inside the hole and was tasked with supplying balls into Ferguson and Idah. His first big contribution came with a pass to Matt Doherty that won Ireland the corner that created the opening goal. He followed that up by sending it to Ferguson, and the striker's flick was knocked in by Collins.
Evan Ferguson - 6
The striker picked up where he left off in the Premier League by assisting the Irish goal. Apart from an attempt inside his own half after spotting Odysseas Vlachodimos off his line, he did what he could with little service.
Adam Idah - 5
The Norwich City striker started his first game for Ireland since a 3-0 victory over Luxembourg in November 2021 and he had minimal impact on a night that saw the team barely get out of their own half during his time on the pitch.
Subs:
Mikey Johnston - 5
The flair player in the attack had no noticeable impact when he came on. There was no moment of individual quality from the winger that announced himself last March by weaving through the Latvian defence and hitting the post.
Jason Knight - 6
The midfielder never stopped running but at a time when Ireland struggled to impose themselves for long periods.
James McClean - 5
The soon-to-be Irish centurion almost cost the team in the second half by giving away a turnover. He redeemed himself with another solid outing in a green jersey.
Michael Obafemi - 7
The striker immediately panicked the Greek backline as he came on and won Ireland a corner by dribbling into the area. Obafemi made a big case to start on Monday against Gibraltar.
Troy Parrott - 6
It was too little too late for striker as he came on with the seconds counting down. He still looked lively, regardless of his brief cameo.
