Ireland vs. Switzerland: All the biggest moments, talking points and player ratings

Patrick McCarry

IRELAND 0-1 SWITZERLAND

After a weekend draw with Belgium, the world No.19 side came to town. Our live hub of the Ireland vs. Switzerland match (above) had all the biggest moments, talking points, best scores and full Ireland player ratings.

Xherdan Shaqiri was the match-winner with a first-half free that left Gavin Bazunu flummoxed. Mikey Johnston and Adam Idah both had decent chances to equalise, but it was not to be, in what could be John O’Shea’s final game in charge of Ireland.

Click on the key point you want to read about, or just keep scrolling to see updates in our live hub [it will appear at the top of this page].

Ireland player ratings from most recent outings

Looking back over Ireland’s last few games, we get a picture at who has been consistent and what players have stood out.

Against Belgium, Chiedoze Ogbene (7.5 out of 10) was our top rated player, with Nathan Collins, Caoimhín Kelleher and Sammie Smodzics all getting 7s.

In the 2-1 home loss to The Netherlands, Alan Browne top scored with 7/10, while Ogbene, James McClean, Adam Idah and Jason Knight got 6s. The rest were rated 5/10. The ratings were a tough read after the home loss to Greece, last June. Evan Ferguson, Gavin Bazunu and Collins got 5s and were the best of a poor bunch. Idah and Matt Doherty had bad outings and finished with 3s.

Ahead of the match with Switzerland, Burnley defender Dara O’Shea gave his thoughts on the next Ireland manager and what he and many of his teammates are hoping for.

“I think us as a group, we just want somebody who understands Irish football and who knows what it is,” he told RTÉ.

“Obviously the manager here has probably the best experience in that sense. He has played so many times for this country and has worked under great managers, great Irish managers too, so there is a lot to take from that as well.

“We are quite a young group and we want to learn, so we want someone who is going to teach us, bring us along the way. Hopefully there is a lot of good that can come from this group in the future.

FRANK LAMPARD ON THE LATEST ‘UNFILTERED’

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