oneill bemoans penalty call after world cup heartbreak
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

O'Neill bemoans penalty call after World Cup heartbreak

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today O'Neill bemoans penalty call after World Cup heartbreak

Northern Ireland's Chris Brunt
Paris - Arab Today

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill bemoaned the controversial first-leg penalty that saw his side's World Cup dream end with a 1-0 aggregate defeat by Switzerland in their play-off on Sunday.

Ricardo Rodriguez's spot-kick in Belfast on Thursday proved the difference between the two sides, as the Swiss held off some late pressure from the unfancied Northern Irish in the second leg at Basel in difficult conditions after heavy rain.

O'Neill said his players would still feel hard done by, after the decision from Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan to award Switzerland a penalty when Xherdan Shaqiri's volley struck Corry Evans on the shoulder from point-blank range.

"Ultimately we've gone out to a poor decision in the first leg," he told Sky Sports after the second-leg 0-0 stalemate.

"If it wasn't for the penalty we'd be playing extra time. They players will be remembered for the performance tonight.

"It's a very sore way to lose. We have to move on."

Despite the controversy surrounding the winning goal, which saw Evans have to apologise for his wife's rant on Twitter in which she called the referee a "Romanian gypsy", Switzerland were the better side over the two legs as they booked their spot at a fourth straight World Cup.

Vladimir Petkovic's home team wasted a host of chances in the first half, with striker Haris Seferovic most to blame, but did enough to get over the line as Rodriguez cleared an injury-time header from Jonny Evans off the line.

"Everyone said it was almost done, but against teams like that it's a fight. I'm very excited we've achieved our goal," goalkeeper Yann Sommer told television channel RTS.

"It's unfortunate that we were not more efficient because it would have been easier."

"It was a difficult match. It was very difficult to play with the pitch and our opponents," Stoke City winger Shaqiri said.

"I'm very proud that we have managed to qualify for the whole country."

It was only the second time in the qualifying campaign that Switzerland had failed to win, after finishing second to Portugal in Group B despite winning nine of their 10 games.

- Croatia complete comfortable win -

Croatia were barely made to break sweat as they eased into the World Cup finals for the fifth time with a goalless draw in Greece.

A 4-1 first-leg win in Zagreb had done the damage on Thursday, and the Greeks never threatened to produce any sort of a comeback.

Croatia, who sacked coach Ante Cacic last month as they finished behind Iceland in Group I, won their final qualifier against Ukraine 2-0 under new boss Zlatko Dalic just to reach the play-offs.

But the 1998 semi-finalists are now into their fifth finals from just six attempts, giving the likes of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic the chance to make up for their group-stage exit in Brazil three years ago.

"We achieved our goal and we are going to Russia. We had a good match in Zagreb but it was difficult here," said Dalic.

"Tonight I am not too happy with our performance, but the important thing is that we have qualified."

Italy welcome Sweden to the San Siro on Monday needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit to avoid failing to qualify for the first time since 1958.

Gian Piero Ventura's side find themselves under massive pressure, with the veteran coach drawing extra criticism after claiming he was "amazed people are surprised we're in the play-offs" after being drawn in a group with Spain.

The final European play-off game sees the Republic of Ireland and Denmark go head-to-head in Dublin on Tuesday with it all to play for after an opening goalless draw in Copenhagen.

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

oneill bemoans penalty call after world cup heartbreak oneill bemoans penalty call after world cup heartbreak

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

oneill bemoans penalty call after world cup heartbreak oneill bemoans penalty call after world cup heartbreak

 



GMT 10:10 2017 Thursday ,09 February

3 Important Elements You Have to Consider

GMT 04:03 2017 Monday ,24 April

Bella Hadid ‘dying’ to visit Palestine

GMT 19:25 2016 Wednesday ,25 May

The Brooklyn Desk by Oeuf NYC

GMT 07:49 2018 Friday ,05 January

2 Russian servicemen killed

GMT 07:58 2018 Monday ,01 January

Italy orders N. Korea's envoy to leave

GMT 08:45 2017 Wednesday ,20 December

US military imagines war without GPS

GMT 17:26 2017 Sunday ,17 December

Putin thanks Trump for help in foiling attack plot

GMT 22:19 2017 Monday ,16 October

Cairo-hosted Fatwa conf. new contribution

GMT 02:27 2016 Friday ,10 June

Video hints Japan abetting illegal ivory trade

GMT 07:04 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

1,883 Bahrainis found jobs in March

GMT 14:24 2016 Tuesday ,22 November

Citi and JPMorgan top list of ‘globally banks’

GMT 21:43 2017 Friday ,01 September

People question Nazaruddin`s repatriation expenses

GMT 09:41 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

OIC concerned over violence in Mali

GMT 01:30 2017 Friday ,27 October

May22/Jun21

GMT 05:38 2016 Friday ,30 December

Dubai Airports divert 13 flights due to heavy fog

GMT 11:38 2017 Saturday ,14 January

Mexico names new ambassador to US

GMT 12:03 2017 Wednesday ,22 March

Kuwait to mark World Water Day

GMT 15:00 2017 Wednesday ,27 September

HM King receives invitation from Egyptian President

GMT 02:45 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

President Bashir arrives in Chad

GMT 02:45 2017 Wednesday ,16 August

Turkmen President Visits Pakistan
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday