FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[Baile Brigín 2]

Hibernians have a decent record in Europe including beating Shelbourne 20 years ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernians_F.C.

IiRC Shels were in total control and conceded late and it was considered a total disaster. One of 14 countries to have never made group stage European football

European football is a caste system. Hibernians beat teams from San Marino, Liechtenstein and Estonia. Malta never qualified for the Euros either.

I'm not sure what you are arguing here. Rovers were expected to win and did so in style. The Matlesers were very very poor.

Malta is a third the size of Louth by the way.

Louth population 40,000   Malta 555,000.
At international level, Faroe Islands population 50,000  outperforms  Malta population 555,000,   
But bear in mind,  Iceland pop 350,000  outperforms Ireland at most intl age levels both male and female.

Ireland punches below its weight at all football levels, both club and country, male and female.
Shamrock Rovers though are doing well, however they only provide an elite academy to selected youngsters, not a proper academy which serves the needs of  the local community.
An equivalent football club in Iceland has about 10 teams at each age level (both male and female) from those aged  5 years onward and each of those teams is coached  by Uefa A or B  certified coaches, no volunteers allowed.
That's probably similar to all Nordic countries. By rights, according to size of population, sporting ethos, economic and social well being,  the best team in Ireland should be there or thereabouts at group stage CL, similar to Scotland. Shamrock Rovers have decidedly made an effort, supporter owned, good administration, have made some basic changes to their coaching structure and infrastructure  and have built a mini foundation of sorts. They're about 20 years behind making these changes and still have a long ways to go.

What's a community acadamy?

Rovers have community teams too. I think you are getting mixed up. There are 47 clubs in Iceland in total and are entirely elite. The grassroots play bounce games on astros and aren't involved with clubs unless talent spotted.

Iceland is interesting but it absolutely not inclusion or grassroots based.

[seafoid]

Hibernians have a decent record in Europe including beating Shelbourne 20 years ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernians_F.C.

IiRC Shels were in total control and conceded late and it was considered a total disaster. One of 14 countries to have never made group stage European football

European football is a caste system. Hibernians beat teams from San Marino, Liechtenstein and Estonia. Malta never qualified for the Euros either.

I'm not sure what you are arguing here. Rovers were expected to win and did so in style. The Matlesers were very very poor.

Malta is a third the size of Louth by the way.

Louth population 40,000   Malta 555,000.
At international level, Faroe Islands population 50,000  outperforms  Malta population 555,000,   
But bear in mind,  Iceland pop 350,000  outperforms Ireland at most intl age levels both male and female.

Ireland punches below its weight at all football levels, both club and country, male and female.
Shamrock Rovers though are doing well, however they only provide an elite academy to selected youngsters, not a proper academy which serves the needs of  the local community.
An equivalent football club in Iceland has about 10 teams at each age level (both male and female) from those aged  5 years onward and each of those teams is coached  by Uefa A or B  certified coaches, no volunteers allowed.
That's probably similar to all Nordic countries. By rights, according to size of population, sporting ethos, economic and social well being,  the best team in Ireland should be there or thereabouts at group stage CL, similar to Scotland. Shamrock Rovers have decidedly made an effort, supporter owned, good administration, have made some basic changes to their coaching structure and infrastructure  and have built a mini foundation of sorts. They're about 20 years behind making these changes and still have a long ways to go.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Louth#Population
According to the Central Statistics Office, Louth had a population of 128,884 as of the 2016 Census,

[Itchy]

139k now

[seafoid]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0711/1309607-hibernians-v-shamrock-rovers-all-you-need-to-know/

[seafoid]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0712/1309837-nathan-collins-makes-blockbuster-move-to-wolves/

Republic of Ireland defender Nathan Collins has completed a move from Burnley to Wolves for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £20.5m, which would make him the most expensive Irish transfer of all time

[Baile Brigín 2]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0711/1309607-hibernians-v-shamrock-rovers-all-you-need-to-know/

Relegated to the news channel so RTE2 can show Denmark v Finland in the wimmins. Surely that should be the other way round?

[Baile Brigín 2]

And stream started late and no stadium sound.

This is worse than not showing it.

[seafoid]

Nil nil after half an hour

[Capt Pat]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0712/1309837-nathan-collins-makes-blockbuster-move-to-wolves/

Republic of Ireland defender Nathan Collins has completed a move from Burnley to Wolves for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £20.5m, which would make him the most expensive Irish transfer of all time

A good move for Collins. At least he didn't get stuck with Burnley in the championship. He is too good fr Burnley at this stage of his development.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Nil nil after half an hour

Was never going to be a classic. Job done, no injuries on a plastic pitch, but will need a few more gears for the Bulgarians

[seafoid]

Nil nil after half an hour

Was never going to be a classic. Job done, no injuries on a plastic pitch, but will need a few more gears for the Bulgarians

I thought Hibernians would score at least one goal but they just changed manager, apparently

[Baile Brigín 2]

Nil nil after half an hour

Was never going to be a classic. Job done, no injuries on a plastic pitch, but will need a few more gears for the Bulgarians

I thought Hibernians would score at least one goal but they just changed manager, apparently

Why did you think that?

Fella apparently got the Lazio youth team gig.

[seafoid]

Nil nil after half an hour

Was never going to be a classic. Job done, no injuries on a plastic pitch, but will need a few more gears for the Bulgarians

I thought Hibernians would score at least one goal but they just changed manager, apparently

Why did you think that?

Fella apparently got the Lazio youth team gig.

They were more of a threat in the second half of the first leg. They were playing at home. They are more comfortable with the heat.  But Rovers were in total control.

[seafoid]

Rovers 1 up but 3-1 down on aggregate vs Ludogorets

[seafoid]

Rovers 1 up but 3-1 down on aggregate vs Ludogorets

2 up and 3-2 down on aggregate