The referee hasn’t helped Irish matters.
Ireland have made it to 0-0 at half-time in Bordeaux against Belgium, but our opponents have dominated proceedings.
Belgium captain Eden Hazard and Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne have seen lots of the ball and, although Ireland have defended resolutely so far, there have been few sights at goal, with Shane Long working hard up top and the referee’s performance not exactly helping matters.
Still, the Boys in Green are well in the match and here’s the best reaction to a tense first half.
DeBruyne getting a lot of space in behind Ireland because he's the most Irish-looking player on the pitch. #headlikeanoffalyminor #IRLBEL
— Declan Varley (@declanvarley) June 18, 2016
#IRLBEL @ShaneLong7 chasing balls into the corner and getting them all, reminds of @bernardflynn15 of the 90s
— Gavin Duffy (@GavinDuffy) June 18, 2016
Rope-a-dope might have worked for Ali, but I'm not sure we should be trying it. #IrlBel
— Fachtna Ó Ceallaigh (@Fachtna_Kelly) June 18, 2016
shane long is taking such a beating out there – vermaelen just won a free-kick for schumachering his hip into the back of long's head
— Ken Early (@kenearlys) June 18, 2016
Football matches are too long. Why don't we agree on, oh I don't know, 31 minutes? #IRLBEL #EURO2016
— Neil Delamere (@neildelamere) June 18, 2016
We need to try and hold onto the ball a little more. These long balls are killing us. We won't survive too long playing like this. C'mon! 🇮🇪
— Laurence Kinlan (@laurencekinlan) June 18, 2016
When Belgium v ROI kicked off, the first thing I thought was 'Stella vs Guinness'. I've been back this side of the pond too long.
— Irvine Welsh (@IrvineWelsh) June 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/BitORedBhoy/status/744163204222291968
Just feel sorry for Long out there today. Thankless task of chasing a thousand lost causes so far
— TacheyDelBosque (@TacheyDelBosque) June 18, 2016
McCarthy and Whelan treating the ball like a suspect device #IRLBEL
— Andrew (@AndrewMorris19) June 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/CiaraWrightx/status/744163153504796672
Ref blamed Hendrick for his own incompetence. Wasn't Hendrick's fault he didn't cop there was 2 balls on the pitch. Ridiculous. #COYBIG
— ☃️❄️ Paul Anthony Ward 🎄 (@PaulAnthonyWard) June 18, 2016
If we can just hold on without conceding for the next 45, there's a good chance we can get a draw. #ThatsMyView #Analysis #Coybig
— Niall McGarry (@MrNiallMcGarry) June 18, 2016
Getting to half time scoreless is a near miracle. #IRLBEL pray for sane in second half.
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) June 18, 2016
Where is this ludramán of a ref from? #IRLBEL
— Jonathan Healy (@jonathanhealy) June 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/calooah/status/744163660617113600
Poor first half. Ref is not helping matters but we will take 0-0 at the mo. Feel sorry for shane long. Very little help, very frustrating.
— Paul Byrne (@byrnepu) June 18, 2016
Shane Long is right to be frustrated. No effort to provide quality ball at all, just heaving it up there at him in hope
— Malachy (@ScottMalachy) June 18, 2016
Interesting tactics the Belgian defenders are using on Shane Long pic.twitter.com/IrNCUvDTBo
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) June 18, 2016
This referee is a disgrace! 😡 #COYBIG
— Ｊ Ｏ Ｓ Ｈ ｘ Ｇ Ｒ Ａ Ｙ (@Josh_Gray97) June 18, 2016
That ref is a ball bag!!! #COYBIG
— Walking On Cars (@WalkingOnCars) June 18, 2016
This Ref loves the taste of whistle.#IRLBEL #COYBIG
— Andrew Maxwell (@andrewismaxwell) June 18, 2016
Robbie Brady's wanger is our best performer so far
— David O'Doherty (@phlaimeaux) June 18, 2016
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
