The Republic of Ireland played out an entertaining nil-all draw with world No 4-ranked Belgium at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.
Here's how we rated the players.
Caoimhin Kelleher 6 – Passed the ball out with authoity and control while Belgium pressed high into the final third. A solid performance from a goalkeeper who only made one 'real' save during the 90 minutes - a terrific stop to deny Thomas Meunier in the 76th minute.
Seamus Coleman 6 – The Donegal native slotted back into life with the national team with ease. He commanded the right wing and was fearless in every challenge. It was like Coleman never had an injury layoff given his innate understanding of how Ireland play and work.
Dara O’Shea 6 – The defender was tidy in and out of possession, and he won Ireland a penalty during the first half. Players like O’Shea don’t have to do something special to garner praise, just their job to the best of their ability.
Andrew Omobamidele 5 – An unassuming night by the defender. He did what he was told but nothing spectacular during his time on the pitch.
Nathan Collins 7 – The defender was positioned at the heart of the back three and he marshalled those around him like an international veteran. He was loud, first to every ball, and disciplined. It was a mature performance by the centre-back.
Josh Cullen 7 – The most thankless job in the pitch can often be just sitting in front of the defence. The exact position needs someone with an ability to read the game, cover space, tackle, and pass the ball. Cullen displayed each one of those attributes during his time on the field.
Will Smallbone 8 – The Under-21 graduate was moved back and told to play as a box-to-box midfielder, with Sammie Szmodics operating in his preferred position at 10. This didn’t seem to matter for Smallbone as he was tidy in possession while covering space around the box.
Robbie Brady 6 – The full-back clearly thrives in the international arena and it showed with the amount of running he did with and without the ball. This was an opportunity to make a case for the left back position, and Brady passed the test.
Sammie Szmodics 7 - On his debut, the Blackburn Rovers star produced an impressive performance in a front three. He worked seamlessly with Ogbene and Ferguson, while showing a clear understanding of John O’Shea’s game plan. An encouraging start to life in a green jersey by the current top scorer in the Championship.
Chiedozie Ogbene 7 – As always, a stellar performance from the winger. Ogbene was explosive in wide positions, and a constant threat. The only blip was his decision making as he went for goal after being played through by Josh Cullen inside the opening five minutes. A squared pass could have meant a tap-in for Coleman. Instead the ball hit the sidenetting.
Evan Ferguson 5 – Everything started with a duel, and the striker came out on top by getting around Wout Faes. Ferguson then faded, with his missed penalty a testament to that. His effort from the spot lacked conviction, though it did look like he slipped at a crucial moment.
SUBSTITUTES
Jason Knight 5 – A meek introduction from the midfielder, who came on during a time when seats were starting to empty and people were turning their focus to Tuesday’s meeting with Switzerland.
Adam Idah 6 – Some good runs by the striker, who is finally hitting the back of the net on a regular basis at club level. There was no real opportunity for Idah to show his full skill set given the lack of service.
Mikey Johnston 6 – There’s always a feeling that something will happen when Johnston is on the ball. That was the case on Saturday, even with the game winding down.
Matt Doherty 5 – A performance that ticked all the boxes, but he paled in comparison to Brady. A positive for supporters is the competition being created at left-back going into the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle.
Festy Ebosele 6 – The full-back was only on the pitch a matter of minutes but he looks like a real prospect going forward.
