Seamus Coleman inspires Republic of Ireland in gritty display against Switzerland
Veteran defender leads charge as Boys in Green show resilience despite narrow defeat
Seamus Coleman showcased a vintage display in last night's clash against Switzerland at the Aviva Stadium, earning well-deserved acclaim as the man of the match.
Despite being 35, the Killybegs native and Everton stalwart exhibited his trademark determination, endearing himself to spectators once again.
Managed by former Republic of Ireland standout John O’Shea, the Boys in Green succumbed to a defeat courtesy of a contentious free kick goal. Nevertheless, Coleman expressed his gratitude for being selected by O’Shea, emphasising his commitment to repaying the faith shown in him by the former Manchester United star.
Reflecting on the match, Coleman voiced satisfaction with his team's efforts, noting a gradual improvement in performance throughout the game.
“I think it took a while for us to get to grips with them in the first half. When we got instructions, we got a bit braver and pressed a bit more and a bit more organised, we were on top,” said Coleman.
“We were lucky not to score; I can’t remember them creating too much apart from the free kick. We penned them in for quite a bit of the game in my opinion. It felt comfortable in the second half; we just need to find a way to score goals.”