++ [ originally posted by JuveCampione ] ++
...let Makaay play though!!!
I'd agree with that. Makaay was good when he came on - far more worrying than van Nistelrooy or Kluivert.
Erik, to say that Holland's layers could crush us if they played at their very best is true, but it's misleading. Firstly, that team playing to its potential would crush almost any other bar perhaps Brazil, France and possibly Italy. But that's insignificant in the face of the fact that Ireland's game depends on not letting a team like Holland play to their potential. We harry, press and kick anyone and everyone on the ball - if you're going to outplay us, you'll do it on our terms. If the Dutch couldn't hack that, then they can shove their 'total' football up where the sun don't shine.
Secondly, we were missing more players than you. Roy Keane and Damo Duff would be missed in
any squad you care to name. Duff in particular would have handed Reisiger his ass on a plate. His replacement was Andy Reid, a first division rising star, who's got half a dozen caps. Keane was replaced by Alan Quinn, another first division player, who was making his first ever start for the country. That guy in left back? He plays for one of the also-rans in Scotland. At right back. The right winger, Miller, was making one of his first appearances too. If Holland can't beat a handful of debutants and lower division players at a canter, they certainly can't be relied on when they're playing world class teams.