"Second-half surge can't mask how far Ireland have fallen off the top level This result was no shock, but that didn't make it any less shocking to watch a once-great team come to terms with their new reality. The second-half surge offered hope that Ireland can recover and find themselves again, but they can't fool themselves about how far off the top level they've fallen."
"This result was no shock, but that didn't make it any less shocking to watch a once-great team come to terms with their new reality."
"The second-half surge offered hope that Ireland can recover and find themselves again, but they can't fool themselves about how far off the top level they've fallen."
The result felt unsurprising yet watching a once-great team accept a diminished status remained stark and unsettling. A strong second-half surge produced encouraging moments and suggested resilience. Those moments offer a basis for potential recovery and regaining form. The comeback, however, cannot conceal the clear gap between Ireland and the leading teams. Meaningful progress will require honest assessment, structural adjustments, and greater consistency across tactics and personnel. Rebuilding competitiveness will take time, clearer direction, and strengthened depth to close the distance back to the top level.
Read at Independent
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