Stephen Kenny said he expects to see out the Euro 2024 qualification campaign, though acknowledges that the future beyond that is a decision for other people.
The Republic of Ireland manager did add that he hasn't given up hope of availing of a play-off via the Nations League next March, though that's dependent on results in other groups and the situation doesn't appear promising at the current juncture.
The door was effectively shut on Ireland's already slim hopes of qualification with a 2-1 loss at home to Netherlands, with the hosts unable to sustain their blistering opening, which yielded an early goal for Adam Idah from the penalty spot.
Cody Gakpo equalised from a penalty at the other end on the 20th minute mark and Wout Weghorst goal 10 minutes after the restart decided the game.
Asked by RTÉ Sport whether this was the end of Ireland's Euro 2024 chances, a downbeat Kenny replied: "Within the group it is. We just have to see whether we qualify for a play-off in March. That has to be decided over the next couple of months.
"I thought the level of our pressing was exceptional in that first half. We were prepared to go man-to-man against the top seeds. Argentina beat them on penalties at the World Cup in the quarter-finals.
"We were prepared to go man-to-man and we got our reward and we should have capitalised on some counterattacking positions after that goal but we couldn't.
"I was just disappointed with the goal we conceded, very disappointed with that.
"For whatever reason our energy levels, we couldn't quite sustain that in the second half. I don’t want to make excuses but the 90 mins in Paris, where we put in a phenomenal effort, had an impact."
'You do need to get results... We're absolutely gutted we haven't won there.'
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 10, 2023
Stephen Kenny tells @corktod he expects to see out the rest of Ireland's Euro 2024 qualification campaign
Report: https://t.co/8OThgVQCZM pic.twitter.com/LoIvw3jISv
It marks Kenny's 13th defeat in 26 competitive matches since taking over in the spring of 2020. Ireland are once again well out of reckoning for qualification heading into the closing stages of the campaign. This has run side by side with two patchy Nations League campaigns.
Kenny touted the achievement of finishing third in the World Cup qualification group, while introducing a lot of new players into the side. However, he acknowledged that results had to arrive.
"You do need to get results. In the World Cup campaign we finished third behind Serbia and Portugal. So, we finished third in a five-team group and we blooded over 20 players in that period.
"Listen, we do [need results]. We're absolutely gutted haven’t won there. To beat one of the best teams in Europe you have to see out difficult periods and we didn’t do that for the second goal."
Ireland have three games left to play in the current campaign, beginning with the home match against Greece on 13 October. Kenny is adamant he'll still be in charge for those games, though won't speculate beyond that.
"Yeah absolutely, we’ve two matches in October, Greece and Gibraltar, and then Holland in Amsterdam. After that, that’s certainly not my decision. We have to see if we have the play-off in March, there’s still a chance."
"The players gave everything tonight. In the first half they were excellent and they deserved to be in front at half-time.
"We were playing the best team in the world and one of the best teams in Europe.
"We’re missing four or five of our best players tonight, forwards we’re building our team around.
"But it is what it is. We gave it everything and we came up short."
