Republic of Ireland 0-2 Greece: Stephen Kenny declines to discuss future after Dublin defeat

  • Published
Shane Duffy and Nathan CollinsImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Republic of Ireland players Shane Duffy and Nathan Collins leave the pitch after the Republic of Ireland's defeat by Greece

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny declined to discuss his future after a disappointing 2-0 home defeat by Greece ended hopes of automatic qualification for the Euro 2024 finals.

The Republic have won one and lost five of their qualifiers to date, taking just three points from a possible 18.

Under-pressure Kenny takes his side to face Gibraltar in Faro on Monday.

Asked about his position after the loss to Greece, Kenny said: "I'm not going to use this to speak about that."

He added: "Ultimately of course we're disappointed. We knew it was a group of death, tough games.

"France, Holland, really tough. We had epic games against both of them.

"You shouldn't be losing at home to Greece. They are a good team, better than people think they are, technically very good with good qualities.

"We needed to win tonight, I know that."

Before the game, the Football Association of Ireland had indicated that the former Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk boss would remain in charge until the end of the campaign.

Asked this week if the results in these two fixtures could change the association's stance, chief executive Jonathan Hill said: "No, I don't think so.

"We're committed to that process of reviewing the whole of the qualification process in November."

Kenny's 27 competitive matches at the helm have yielded just five victories - against Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Scotland, Armenia and Gibraltar.

With any hope of qualification through Group B now gone, the Republic still have a notional, but unlikely chance of securing a play-off spot.

'A game we would have wanted to win'

Greece, who had set out on the campaign knowing they and the Irish would realistically be competing for third place and a possible challenge to France and the Netherlands, were far superior in Dublin as they backed up their June win in Athens with an even more impressive display.

First-half goals from Giorgos Giakoumakis and Giorgos Masouras secured three points to take them to 12 from their opening six games, nine more than their opponents at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday night.

The Republic boss said: "It is definitely a game that we would have wanted to win and it's a disappointing result to lose at home to Greece."

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Republic manager Stephen Kenny shakes hands with Greece counterpart Gus Poyet

Opposite number Gus Poyet was delighted with his team's efforts, which left them three points ahead of the Netherlands ahead of their meeting with the Dutch on Monday, Greece having played a game more.

He said: "I think we're learning, I think we're growing up.

"I think the players are understanding that to qualify for the Euros and then to perform in the Euros, we still need a little bit more, and I think Monday is going to be massive.

"There are plenty of things that we need to do well on Monday and depending on that, how much we grow up as a team, I think we're going to be in a better position to qualify.

"But I have to say, we have put ourselves there with our victories, with our work somehow, and if you'd asked me before we started when I was in Frankfurt for the draw and you said to me that we would be here now with this chance to qualify, I would have taken it."