OH’IRELAND

If football is the opium of the people, distracting them from everyday cruelties imposed by their rulers, then over the years Republic O’Ireland fans have had to serve as something far stronger – morphine in craic form – to distract people from the horrors inflicted by their football team. If any neutral wants O’Ireland to reach Euro 2020, then it is only because their fans bring song and Tin, while out on the pitch their team kicks in the shopfront windows of decent folks’ sensibilities.

Actually, maybe the head trauma sustained by watching the last two matches played by Mick McCarthy’s side has rendered The Fiver unduly harsh. After all, back in 1990 O’Ireland advanced to the World Cup quarter-final by scoring two goals in five matches, whereas McCarthy’s men stand top of their qualification group for Euro 2020 thanks to artful exhibitions of derring-do that have yielded six goals in seven games. That’s progress in anyone’s ledger, even if two of those matches were against the British campsite XI, Gibraltar.

Ireland fall to Switzerland despite Darren Randolph’s heroics Read more

Yet McCarthy faces criticism in the wake of his team’s most recent sorties, Saturday’s 0-0 draw in Georgia – where the manager omitted an in-form Premier League striker, Aaron Connelly, because Luton Town’s James Collins is better at defending throw-ins – and Tuesday’s 2-0 battering by Switzerland, in which O’Ireland set out in a new formation with 11 players apparently selected at random from a bus stop just before kick-off. “I don’t think the system caused us to have an inability to pass the ball to one another, so I’m not taking the rap for that,” stormed McCarthy.

Still, the manager reckons those matches will be forgotten if his team secure qualification by winning their last one, at home to Denmark next month. That won’t be easy because captain Séamus Coleman will be suspended. But Matt Doherty should fill in well. The bigger concern, then, may be that the Irish will also be without their joint top-scorer, Joseph Chipolina, the Gibraltar defender whose own goal in Dublin in June set up Ireland’s biggest win of the campaign so far.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I roomed with him at the World Cup. That was a real pleasure. We were forwards together at Argentinos Juniors and even then it was clear how special he was but he never made you feel different. He was always part of the team. If you made a mistake he would always support you. He is a great man off the pitch as well as on it and he is still a real friend. We were such a close group and we are still in touch with each other today. We have a WhatsApp group called ‘Campeones 86’ that we use all the time, including Maradona” – new Bangor City manager [of course – Fiver Ed] and World Cup winner Pedro Pasculli gets his chat on with Andy Hunter.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Pedro at Nantporth Stadium. Photograph: Colin McPherson/The Guardian

FIVER LETTERS

“As an Irishman it’s always been easy to dislike the English. As a football fan it’s been easy to see modern footballers as overpaid prima donnas. However, to see the way the English players conducted themselves on Monday night in the presence of neanderthals was so impressive and inspiring (and I don’t use that word easily). The continued head in sand mentality has to stop. Hopefully this might start a change” – Gareth Aherne.

“The England players have rightly received huge plaudits for their strong and dignified response to racism in Bulgaria. Would it be fair to say that one of the many hurdles football faces next is for players to condemn racist acts by their teammates or club colleagues just as strongly? Rather than, say, dismissing it as b@nter by multi-linguists or ringing up the nearest T-shirt print shop” – Tim.

“Twice in the last couple of months I have been forced to acknowledge quality writing from The Fiver when you have written about racism (yesterday’s Fiver). What’s going on? Any chance you can spread that quality to the normal fare that is served up daily?” – Jeremy Humphries.

“As a regular and enthusiastic reader of The Fiver during the period covering Mike Hall’s absence (yesterday’s Fiver letters), I though he might appreciate a summary of all the interesting and amusing bits that he missed: ” – Clive Jerram.

Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And you can always tweet The Fiver via @guardian_sport. Today’s winners of our letters o’the day are … Gareth Aherne and Clive Jerram, who win copies of Per Mertesacker: Big Friendly German. We’ve more to give away all week.

NEWS, BITS AND BOBS

North Korea’s 0-0 World Cup qualifying draw with South Korea – played in front of no fans or foreign media – was a footballing feast of “attacks and counterattacks”, according to a report in the North Korean propaganda bugle KCNA.

Bulgarian bizzies have detained six people in connection with the racist abuse of England players with more arrests likely.

Lazio have been ordered to close four sections of their stadium for their Big Vase game against the Queen’s Celtic because of racist behaviour by fans during a group match against Rennes.

David de Gea may miss Manchester United’s defeat by Liverpool after suffering groin-gah in Spain’s 1-1 draw with Sweden.

Nasty Leeds forward Eddie Nketiah scored a hat-trick and missed a penalty on a busy night as England U-21s beat Austria U-21s 5-1 in a Euro qualifier.

USA! USA!! USA!!! boss Gregg Berhalter is in serious danger of being bundled aboard the good ship Do One after overseeing the nation’s first loss to Canada (yes, Canada!) in 34 years. “We didn’t match what Canada was bringing,” he howled after the shambolic 2-0 defeat.

And Trent-Alexander Arnold has been waxing lyrical about the Guinness Book of World Records after his 12 Premier League assists last season meant he was now part of it. “I always used to read it as a kid because they’re fun to read, to see the different records and what people are up to all around the world,” gushed the Liverpool right-back. “It’s an unbelievably proud moment for me and all of my family.”

RECOMMENDED BUYING

You can get your hands on some of David Squires’ favourite cartoons of his from down the years at our Print Shop.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Classic. Illustration: David Squires/The Guardian

STILL WANT MORE?

So: Bulgaria bad, England good? Actually this is not as black and white as it seems, writes Marina Hyde.

Paltry fines and spineless words helped create the poison in Sofia, reckons Barney Ronay.

A story of a 44-year-old with no previous professional football experience making his debut in the Mexican top flight and almost scoring a goal is recalled in this week’s Knowledge. Go on, take a look here.

Atlético Madrid’s Toni Duggan returns to Manchester City with a Women’s Big Cup point to prove, reports Suzanne Wrack.

The Premier League players whose stats have improved most this season, via WhoScored.

Jack Sparkes gets his chat on with Ben Fisher about how Exeter is becoming a talent-factory for top, top west country footballers.

From the archive: 21,834 words of Rob Smyth on Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool, Oasis v Blur, Spice Girls, Spice Boys and two sets of talented players setting off on contrasting journeys.

Oh, and if it’s your thing … you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. And INSTACHAT, TOO!

RECOMMENDED LISTENING

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