Donny van de Beek’d #1
This is almost unbearable (in a good way)
Ireland v Serbia
07.09.21
It’s 3PM on Tuesday, I’m just out of bed and LiveScore lifts my mood to mixed. I thought this match was on Wednesday. I wouldn’t have made this mistake before. I just don’t look forward to Ireland games the way I used to. Not since I got Sky Sports and became acclimatised to a steady diet of elite club football from England. The international break brings withdrawal symptoms and feelings of inconvenience.
Nevertheless, I’m still a believer so I tune in to RTÉ at 7.30PM.
The suits of the all-male panel are okay. Brady pulls off the open shirt and jacket best. It’s likely his age. Older men can do this look effortlessly. Stephen Kelly is the only one to wear a tie and could fit in on Sky Sports, on their GAA coverage that is.
As for Stephen Kenny, he dresses like a man with a project. You can be sure that if Ole Gunnar Solskjær donned Kenny’s suave suits and polo shirts he’d have pundits lauding his worldliness and strategic prowess after a cagey 1–0 win away to Wolves.
As we hand over to George Hamilton, back in his big match commentary spot, the vibes are immaculate at Lansdowne Road. Aleksandar Mitrović wears a gnarly bruise under his left eye, George doesn’t explain it and I like it that way. The heart warms as both teams take the knee to the stadium’s applause after a dignified and respectful ambience to the playing of the anthems.
A banner reads IN KENNY WE TRUST, and that we do, the serious of us.
My eyes, sore from late nights, catch sight of a starry plough in the corner of the ground covering the logo of the Irish Rugby Football Union. I am seeing everything I want to see.
Gavin Bazunu (19!), not for the first time, wears the weight of the glorious yellow goalie shirt well with a string of first half saves.
George reminds us that James McClean is an elder statesman these days. These are revolutionary times after all.
Somewhere along the way Serbia have scored but I don’t mind too much as we’re playing out from the back and I love it. I’ll love it more when we do it better.
I have my halftime pizza so pay no mind to the halftime boys. I learn from an ad though that a new mobile phone can alleviate the loneliness and alienation of the teenager in your home. There’s the usual Paddy Power bit as well in case I’m feeling like a thrill.
Serbia will want goals in the second half, their inferior goal difference to table topper Portugal demands it. Bazunu is the only man to stop them, notably denying Mitrović at point blank range. Kelly hails Bazunu the Yellow Brick Wall, George remarks you’d have bet your house on Mitrović.
The momentum shifts with fifteen to go. Lansdowne Road roars and it suddenly feels like a world cup qualifier or playoff with a goal to be nicked. We look like an Iceland or Finland. The plucky underdog vibe has been returned to the green shirt.
The goal comes comedically. The Serbian bangs the ball against his teammate and it bounces back into their net.
We could have won or lost it after that. George sums it up — this is almost unbearable, in a good way.
The winner doesn’t come but a 1–1 draw feels like something’s been achieved. The return of the vibe, a feeling of progress.
It’s average 6s across the park for me with standout Bazunu on 8.
