:00:08. > :00:10.# Je vois la ville en fete et en delire
:00:11. > :00:14.# Suffoquant sous le soleil et sous la joie
:00:15. > :00:17.# Et j'entends dans la musique les cris, les rires
:00:18. > :00:21.# Qui eclatent et rebondissent autour de moi
:00:22. > :01:06.COMMENTATOR: Welcome to Bordeaux, where the Republic of Ireland face
:01:07. > :01:09.Belgium. Both teams will have been frustrated after their opening in
:01:10. > :01:13.counters. The Republic of Ireland because they failed to win against
:01:14. > :01:17.Sweden, Alger because they failed to turn up against Italy. A big game in
:01:18. > :01:19.Bordeaux, but it is the Belgians who will be feeling the pressure ahead
:01:20. > :01:30.of this one. Questions have been asked following
:01:31. > :01:39.a 2-0 defeat at Italy, and the coach makes three changes today. Marouane
:01:40. > :01:45.Fellaini is dropped from midfield. Thomas Meunier comes into the
:01:46. > :01:50.defence. Romelu Lukaku retains his place at the head of the attack.
:01:51. > :02:01.Eden Hazard captaining Belgium in these championships following the
:02:02. > :02:08.injury to Vincent Kompany. John O'Shea, well over 100 caps now. And
:02:09. > :02:14.the referee, by the way, from Turkey, who took charge of Ireland's
:02:15. > :02:18.2-0 defeat Italy four years ago. Martin O'Neill has been forced to
:02:19. > :02:21.make a change to the side that acquitted itself so well against
:02:22. > :02:26.Sweden in Paris, Jonathan Walters misses the game within a killer
:02:27. > :02:35.these injury, so Stephen Ward comes in. -- and Achilles injury. Wes
:02:36. > :02:47.Hoolahan is left to float in behind Shane Long.
:02:48. > :02:53.Almost ready to go in Bordeaux, many of those Irish fans of Ernie
:02:54. > :02:56.appeared in the last five minutes or so. I think it took some of them are
:02:57. > :03:02.little while to head out from the bars and restaurants of central
:03:03. > :03:09.Bordeaux. Up to the outskirts here, and this new stadium. Ireland and
:03:10. > :03:17.the white shirts, Belgium to get is under way. The referee from Turkey
:03:18. > :03:23.refereed both Champions League semifinals this season, the first
:03:24. > :03:28.leg of one, the second leg of the other. Kevin Kilbane, 110 caps for
:03:29. > :03:33.the Republic of Ireland is alongside me in the commentary box here, and I
:03:34. > :03:36.suppose, as much as you will be watching Ireland, it is also very
:03:37. > :03:41.much about which Belgian team turns up today. That is very true, and a
:03:42. > :03:44.lot of the time throughout this game will be about containing the
:03:45. > :03:49.Belgians with the talent they have got. As we proved against Sweden, we
:03:50. > :03:52.have real talent in the side, so it is about what we do as long as we
:03:53. > :03:57.have the ball. Kevin de Bruyne putting the ball out to the left
:03:58. > :04:01.side, but the Turkish referee quick to blow his whistle, and it is a
:04:02. > :04:06.free kick to the Republic of Ireland, who led against Sweden at
:04:07. > :04:17.the Stade de France NFL is to match. That was handball against the brine,
:04:18. > :04:22.by the way. -- against de Bruyne. And unfortunate if Martin Clark, he
:04:23. > :04:26.scored an own goal in that match. Nothing much he could do. Wes
:04:27. > :04:29.Hoolahan has now reached legendary status in Ireland, a wonderful
:04:30. > :04:36.finish and capped off a really good first half. Randolph with that
:04:37. > :04:51.kicks, it is still going up, and it is away by Thomas Meunier, the right
:04:52. > :04:54.back who plays for club Bruges. Sliding in to put the ball out of
:04:55. > :05:01.play, Young Vertonghen, and Thomas Vermaelen and a heart of defence.
:05:02. > :05:05.You mentioned with Hendrix, of slight change of system, he is in an
:05:06. > :05:08.unfamiliar role on the right-hand side today, so he will be looking to
:05:09. > :05:13.track act, maybe an Eden Hazard as well, but with the energy he has he
:05:14. > :05:16.needs to try to get forward and hurt particularly Vertonghen at left-back
:05:17. > :05:32.for Belgium. Brought back by Hazard, Belgium's
:05:33. > :05:37.captain. Picking out de Bruyne, who has really become the main man with
:05:38. > :05:42.his performances in the qualification process. He is slap
:05:43. > :05:46.bang in the middle of the pitch, Kevin de Bruyne, with Hazard to his
:05:47. > :05:50.left, and on the nearside, Yannick Carrasco, one of those brought into
:05:51. > :05:54.the team today. Only winning his sixth cap.
:05:55. > :06:01.I think what we will see from those three supporting Romilly Lukaku is a
:06:02. > :06:09.change of position. That is the ability they all have. Lukaku
:06:10. > :06:19.keeping his place up top. He has options, Christian Benteke, talk
:06:20. > :06:22.among the Belgians that Batshuayi might have been thrown in for this
:06:23. > :06:32.one, but Lukaku given another chance. It is forward from De
:06:33. > :06:38.Bruyne, sending it again. This is Carrasco.
:06:39. > :06:42.First misunderstanding of the day, but fortunately for Belgium, still
:06:43. > :07:00.in play. He hasn't played too many games
:07:01. > :07:07.lately, McCarthy, struggling with an injury. He did struggle in the game
:07:08. > :07:12.against Sweden. Playing a more familiar central role today, he was
:07:13. > :07:21.on the right-hand side then. Axel Witsel into Lukaku. And away off the
:07:22. > :07:29.boot of Coleman. There is Shane Long. A first touch him, he had a
:07:30. > :07:33.very good season with Southampton, that hearts are little short there
:07:34. > :07:38.from Brady, not much chance for award to get to it. A threat from
:07:39. > :07:44.Belgium, didn't quite see the opening he was hoping for.
:07:45. > :07:51.Carrasco's delivery. Darren Randolph right behind the ball. That is a
:07:52. > :07:56.threat, you vacate your position to early and the threat is evident.
:07:57. > :08:12.Stephen Ward and Robbie Brady a misunderstanding between the two of
:08:13. > :08:17.them. Do -- de Bruyne. He made a couple of mistakes in that early
:08:18. > :08:20.game, the slice of Ciaran Clark. Sweden did create one or two
:08:21. > :08:23.chances, particularly when the Republic of Ireland went back on the
:08:24. > :08:28.back foot a little bit, it just caused as a few problems in the
:08:29. > :08:36.second half. Something that Martin would have thought about. A little
:08:37. > :08:42.too much on that ball over towards the far side. There is a man under a
:08:43. > :08:47.little bit of pressure, Marc Wilmots, Belgium's all-time top
:08:48. > :08:52.scorer, now dealing with some dissenting voices questioning his
:08:53. > :08:59.tactical acumen. Some of his players as well, it must be said. Thibaut
:09:00. > :09:14.Courtois outspoken following the defeat to Italy the other day, and
:09:15. > :09:25.nine gallon -- Nainggolan as well having been substituted. There have
:09:26. > :09:30.not had to travel far for this map -- match.
:09:31. > :09:41.First touch for Dembele. He has had a very good season with Tottenham,
:09:42. > :09:42.an excellent one in fact until the incident with Diego Costa right at
:09:43. > :10:02.the end. Dembele is being harassed and
:10:03. > :10:08.hassled by Hoolahan. Shane Long is always prepared to chase, and he
:10:09. > :10:21.nipped it there in front of Alderweireld. And now Ward. It is a
:10:22. > :10:24.good early ball forward from Stephen Ward, under a little bit of
:10:25. > :10:28.pressure, running into a blind alley, but he knows if he puts it in
:10:29. > :10:35.behind, Shane Long has the pace every time, he can cause problems
:10:36. > :10:41.for Alderweireld and Thomas Vermaelen today. Qualifiers in
:10:42. > :10:45.Scotland and Poland, and a recent match against Belarus have been
:10:46. > :10:52.their latest matches in which he has played. Dembele to bring it clear,
:10:53. > :10:54.looking for a Lukaku. Kevin de Bruyne are getting well forward
:10:55. > :11:00.alongside him, and that is Vertonghen galloping up to the edge
:11:01. > :11:04.of the penalty area. A slight stumble from Coleman, allowing
:11:05. > :11:07.Vermaelen to get the march on him. Ireland pushing bodies forward
:11:08. > :11:27.quickly, getting caught on the counterattack.
:11:28. > :11:39.He asserted himself there ahead of Lukaku, played a handful of matches
:11:40. > :11:42.for Tottenham, he was their FA Cup goalkeeper. He has been excellent
:11:43. > :11:46.since coming into the side when Shay Given got injured. He is now
:11:47. > :11:57.Ireland's number one. John O'Shea swiftly, and it falls
:11:58. > :12:08.kindly for Carrasco. Kevin de Bruyne has Thomas Meunier behind him. And
:12:09. > :12:12.winning the ball was Ward. The Republic of Ireland struggling to
:12:13. > :12:15.hang onto possession of the ball when they do get it at the moment.
:12:16. > :12:22.Bursting forward now towards the penalty area. The flag is up on the
:12:23. > :12:25.nearside for offside. Most of the threat from Belgium is coming down
:12:26. > :12:29.the right, Meunier getting forward was Carrasco, so that is something
:12:30. > :12:33.maybe Brady and Stephen Ward have got to work out for themselves, how
:12:34. > :12:40.to stop that threat going forward, nullified and then try to impose
:12:41. > :12:43.their own game on Belgium. Interesting, when you look at
:12:44. > :12:47.Belgium's attacking players on the field, a wonderful array of talent,
:12:48. > :12:52.but looking at them in the qualifiers, they scored 24 goals,
:12:53. > :12:54.but 16 of them were against Cyprus and Andorra, they only scored eight
:12:55. > :13:02.in the rest of the match as they played. -- six in the other eight
:13:03. > :13:07.matches. They move the ball quickly but a lot of the time it is in front
:13:08. > :13:16.of the opposition, they rarely threatened behind. They stay compact
:13:17. > :13:21.and narrow defensively. Shane Long sniffing around for anything that
:13:22. > :13:27.falls from the table. Swiped away by TiVo Cortois. Vertonghen is going to
:13:28. > :13:34.leave that one of Hazzard. -- Hazard. The ball in from Carrasco,
:13:35. > :13:43.just a little heavy footed there from Hazard, he wanted something
:13:44. > :13:46.with a deft touch. Almost found Hendrick, but there is a lot of
:13:47. > :13:51.Belgian possession here in the early stages. He didn't just send it
:13:52. > :13:55.forward in hope, hoping to pick Shane Long, he is trying to get a
:13:56. > :14:03.Hendrik, but it is constant attack is at the moment.
:14:04. > :14:14.Ciaran Clark, the player in close attendance birth. -- there.
:14:15. > :14:22.Kevin de Bruyne are leaving that one, it doesn't quite role forward
:14:23. > :14:26.to Lukaku, and are grateful Ciaran Clark puts it out of play. Not an
:14:27. > :14:28.unknown quality, the Belgian players, because many of them
:14:29. > :14:31.playing in the Premier League every week, but just because you know what
:14:32. > :14:36.to expect doesn't make it any easier to deal with when they are of the
:14:37. > :14:40.quality that some of them are. Here is Hazard now, and Brady with the
:14:41. > :14:44.chance to read it here. Hoolahan wanted the ball played a shorter.
:14:45. > :14:53.They have gone long towards Shane Long. Thomas Vermaelen finding
:14:54. > :14:54.Vertonghen, in towards Hazard. Seamus Coleman just trying to have a
:14:55. > :15:08.dig, but Hazard once more. Vertonghen has time to pick his spot
:15:09. > :15:14.with the cross, but still only found Whelan. But it will be a corner from
:15:15. > :15:18.Belgium, the first of the match. He was under pressure, Belgium putting
:15:19. > :15:21.Ireland and the defensive shape to the test. They have got to be
:15:22. > :15:40.disciplined during these moments. Jan Vertonghen with the Keck, a
:15:41. > :15:52.little flicked header from Toby Jones. -- kick. Excellent ball from
:15:53. > :15:59.Kevin to brine. McCarthy cannot stick with them, difficult header to
:16:00. > :16:09.try and get any power and get it on target from that angle. -- Toby
:16:10. > :16:13.Alderweireld. From what we have seen in the opening 30 minutes it is safe
:16:14. > :16:20.to say that Belgium are rather more switched on that when they played
:16:21. > :16:25.Italy. They certainly are. At times you felt, even when they had
:16:26. > :16:31.possession, they were lethargic, moving it slowly, but we have seen a
:16:32. > :16:35.different Belgian side. It is a big test for Ireland, trying to work
:16:36. > :16:46.their way in, chances will hopefully come further in the game. The
:16:47. > :16:48.Belgians have conceded in the last eight International they have
:16:49. > :16:50.played. The header from Jan Vertonghen. An interesting ploy,
:16:51. > :16:57.Ireland have picked up in the left-hand side of the field, Shane
:16:58. > :17:01.Long, not necessarily a ball played straight, always looking for the
:17:02. > :17:06.ball for a Shane Long to play-off back row hoping he can get it
:17:07. > :17:11.diagonally hipped to him. Belgium are looking to keep the pace high
:17:12. > :17:16.with the car clue. 18 goals in the Premier League last season. So many
:17:17. > :17:22.in the latter stages of the campaign -- Romelu Lukaku.
:17:23. > :17:35.Eden Hazard. Plenty of options in and around the penalty area. Seamus
:17:36. > :17:44.Coleman gets it away up towards Shane Long. It is given as a, Thomas
:17:45. > :17:50.Vermaelen sticking close to it. He has had so many injury problems and
:17:51. > :17:56.now he has been fed for Barcelona this season, not surprisingly he is
:17:57. > :18:07.struggling to get a game -- sets. One or two have a chance in that
:18:08. > :18:21.squad. It is good to see him set. He is obvious quality. -- fit. Shane
:18:22. > :18:33.Long not looking terribly impressed as Ireland take the throw in. Here
:18:34. > :18:37.is Jeff Hendrick. It will be a goal kick for Thibaut Courtois. Such an
:18:38. > :18:44.difficult cross, trying to get it back into play. The pundits on
:18:45. > :18:49.French television were impressed with Jeff Hendrick the other day. I
:18:50. > :18:54.played with him when he was a youngster coming through, really
:18:55. > :18:58.good ability, he has had a number of injuries but he is certainly a big
:18:59. > :19:05.talent and you are hopeful that he can go on and have a successful
:19:06. > :19:11.career now he is injury free. Ciaran Clark getting his foot to the ball
:19:12. > :19:14.at head of 12 Micro. Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen is
:19:15. > :19:22.available with plenty of room -- Carrasco.
:19:23. > :19:32.Goal kick for the challenge on Eden Hazard. Quick to take the kick, and
:19:33. > :19:38.little too quick. Seamus Coleman is unlucky, he is trying to put Eden
:19:39. > :19:49.Hazard under pressure. A little hand on the shirt but Eden Hazard lost
:19:50. > :20:03.his putting a little bit. -- 13. What can Kevin De Bruyne do with
:20:04. > :20:11.this? # row footing. Whipped in an causing real problems for the
:20:12. > :20:15.Republic of Ireland -- footing. Ireland did not look comfortable. No
:20:16. > :20:21.real organisation but fortunately the ball from Kevin De Bruyne was a
:20:22. > :20:25.bit of target because I think Randolph would have had problems if
:20:26. > :20:28.it was going at that far post. We are heading into an area of
:20:29. > :20:36.uncertainty. Ward in the air, first appearance in
:20:37. > :20:53.the Championship today for him. The Republic of Ireland were beaten
:20:54. > :20:58.in all three of their matches, they have fared better in France this
:20:59. > :21:06.time. Trying to work the ball out wide to Seamus Coleman. Wes
:21:07. > :21:11.Hoolahan. Looking for a Shane Long and behind, off the head of Thomas
:21:12. > :21:17.Vermaelen. He needed to make sure and the Irish have a corner, the
:21:18. > :21:21.first of the match. The element of surprise caused problems for
:21:22. > :21:30.Belgium. He had options with Ward and Brady. Decent enough chance,
:21:31. > :21:38.well defended. Robbie Brady the player taking his time in wandering
:21:39. > :21:40.across preparing to take the kick. He was at left-back in the first
:21:41. > :21:57.game. Nothing he is not used to. Ciaran Clark and John O'Shea are up
:21:58. > :22:04.for this, flicked header on, Thibaut Courtois put it safely over the top
:22:05. > :22:08.of the crossbar. That is what you're looking for from Robbie Brady, put
:22:09. > :22:23.it into a good area, he has rail ability. -- real ability.
:22:24. > :22:34.Brady again. Straight into the arts stretched glans of the Thibaut
:22:35. > :22:51.Courtois. What a throw. -- outstretched arms. Kevin De Bruyne,
:22:52. > :22:57.Mousa Dembele is nearby. Meunier, loves to get forward, he used to be
:22:58. > :23:04.a striker early in his career. Excellent defending from Stephen
:23:05. > :23:09.Ward. He has adapted to the role of left-back at Wolves. He has had an
:23:10. > :23:19.excellent last six months, getting promoted with Birmingham.
:23:20. > :23:25.Not sure what he had in mind, plenty of time to put it away. Thomas
:23:26. > :23:43.Vermaelen. Carrasco getting that out for Mousa
:23:44. > :23:46.Dembele. Whipped in by Kevin De Bruyne, fantastic ball, great chance
:23:47. > :23:52.for Eden Hazard! First really big chance of the game. Right across the
:23:53. > :23:58.face of the goal and into the crowd off the boot of Eden Hazard. What a
:23:59. > :24:03.chance. You would expect him to do better. What a ball from Kevin De
:24:04. > :24:08.Bruyne. Excellent defending from John O'Shea against Romelu Lukaku.
:24:09. > :24:12.You expect Eden Hazard to show more composure and get himself, his
:24:13. > :24:16.position adjusted better. Lots of power. That was poor from Eden
:24:17. > :24:41.Hazard. Free kick. Let us take a look at this one once
:24:42. > :24:50.again. It is difficult, I think the foul is on Shane Long initially, but
:24:51. > :24:55.that is what the referee has to be careful of. Thomas Vermaelen has his
:24:56. > :25:03.hand all over him when a ball is blighted towards him. Quite a tussle
:25:04. > :25:06.between those two. Already in the opening 21 and a half minutes,
:25:07. > :25:15.halfway through the first half and Mousa Dembele, Jeff Hendrick, a
:25:16. > :25:20.little touch in now. Toby Alderweireld on the edge of the
:25:21. > :25:26.penalty area gets the ball from Wes Hoolahan. Almost the hint of an
:25:27. > :25:33.opportunity. He has got to play Robbie Brady, a great run inside
:25:34. > :25:38.him. Here Belgium with Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne. Suddenly those
:25:39. > :25:42.white shirts were on him. He was excellent in the game against
:25:43. > :25:49.Sweden. A lot of his work went unnoticed but this was a chance.
:25:50. > :25:54.Play early to Jeff Hendrick. Brady made a good run. A slight loss of
:25:55. > :25:58.control of the ball. There are in the blinking of the night, an
:25:59. > :26:00.opportunity frittered away. Eden Hazard once again. This is Jan
:26:01. > :26:14.Vertonghen. Jan Vertonghen stain on the ground
:26:15. > :26:26.after that tangle with Seamus Coleman. He will always look for it,
:26:27. > :26:33.as soon as he realises that Seamus Coleman is on him, a little bit of a
:26:34. > :26:40.drag back, it is a foul. Just shows again... He was fouled but he ended
:26:41. > :26:43.up pulling Seamus Coleman over. It was the correct call but perhaps the
:26:44. > :26:59.referee did not make the decision early. Meunier. Moran that closed
:27:00. > :27:05.down by Jeff Hendrick. Randa comes away with the ball -- Mousa Dembele.
:27:06. > :27:11.Strength and purpose from Mousa Dembele -- Mousa Dembele. Eden
:27:12. > :27:24.Hazard does not like the options he has got. Here is Jan Vertonghen.
:27:25. > :27:28.Whip Tim, the flag has gone up, it would not count. Carrasco. The flag
:27:29. > :27:43.went up a long time ago. Ciaran Clark is applauding the three
:27:44. > :27:48.around him. A risky game, it really is a risky game, stepping up in that
:27:49. > :27:52.position. Stephen Ward, he sees it, he has got to be careful, especially
:27:53. > :28:00.when there is not a lot of pressure on the ball. It is a warning. Great
:28:01. > :28:09.save from Randolph. Right call from the officials. That is a warning.
:28:10. > :28:18.Wes Hoolahan. A touch from Brady. Unable to pick out Jeff Hendrick.
:28:19. > :28:22.That is were the Republic of Ireland are letting themselves down. The
:28:23. > :28:31.final third, even the middle third, not holding onto the ball enough,
:28:32. > :28:39.nose sustained possession. Eden Hazard played out to Carrasco.
:28:40. > :28:44.Meunier in support if required. Cheers of relief from those in green
:28:45. > :28:50.and white in the stadium. They are being overrun, we have to be
:28:51. > :28:56.careful. Just getting readjustments to the shape of the side after a
:28:57. > :29:01.good performance, we are playing in a diamond shape in mid field. Marc
:29:02. > :29:06.Wilmots will be encouraged with what he saw. A better performance from
:29:07. > :29:14.Belgium. The showing against Italy was not great. Free kick for the
:29:15. > :29:34.Republic of Ireland for the challenge on Wes Hoolahan.
:29:35. > :29:39.This by the way the eighth match the Republic of Ireland have played at
:29:40. > :29:48.the finals of the European Championships over the years. Just
:29:49. > :29:51.the one win from the previous seven. Famously beating England by 1-0 in
:29:52. > :30:11.1988, 28 years ago. John O'Shea. Looking for a Shane
:30:12. > :30:19.Long. The ball has dropped to Wes Hoolahan. Mousa Dembele came back
:30:20. > :30:26.and got it off him. Flag up on the near side. Clever from Shane Long,
:30:27. > :30:33.he knows if he flicked it on, he has got no support, the little
:30:34. > :30:43.knock-down brings Wes Hoolahan into "A Shane Long has come into his own.
:30:44. > :30:46.His own manager did not choose him at Southampton. He feels he is the
:30:47. > :31:04.main man for his country. 13 goals he has scored for
:31:05. > :31:08.Southampton this last. Shane Long has scored a few problems early on.
:31:09. > :31:13.A good line there from Belgium, Vermaelen just stepping up. There is
:31:14. > :31:18.that threat in behind from Shane Long, Ireland know at any given
:31:19. > :31:28.time, he will be the one who will be the first to get the ball. A lovely
:31:29. > :31:31.deft flick from Hazard in to Kevin de Bruyne, who shoots, but not
:31:32. > :31:41.really enough pace to trouble Darren Randolph. A good long ball played up
:31:42. > :31:45.to Lukaku. He does become isolated, that is his threat, he doesn't get
:31:46. > :31:48.himself in the game enough, but when you directly go to him, it gives the
:31:49. > :31:55.team a different dimension, a different option. They have
:31:56. > :32:08.semi-options up front. If you think about some of the forwards on the
:32:09. > :32:11.bench, Christian Benteke, Batshuayi. We thought coming into the game it
:32:12. > :32:15.might have been Lukaku sacrificed, but they are sticking with it,
:32:16. > :32:18.giving him another chance. You would imagine one of those other attacking
:32:19. > :32:33.options would come into the game at some stage. In that blistering club
:32:34. > :32:39.form for Romilly Lukaku -- Romelu Lukaku has failed to transfer itself
:32:40. > :32:43.onto the international stage so far. Up towards Shane Long, Vermaelen in
:32:44. > :32:49.their first, a little bit of space far Hazard. Kevin de Bruyne and
:32:50. > :32:54.Meunier coming forward a bit, knocking on the door a bit. That is
:32:55. > :33:02.the option for Meunier getting forward, a real attacking outlet.
:33:03. > :33:05.Good vision from De Bruyne. He knew it would take something special to
:33:06. > :33:08.beat Darren Randolph from that angle, so he just stands off him.
:33:09. > :33:22.Good defending from Ward. Belgium hoping this is their golden
:33:23. > :33:27.generation, this tournament has been earmarked for quite a long time I
:33:28. > :33:33.think by the Belgian FA is one to realistically target.
:33:34. > :33:46.Off the head of Axel Witsel. They do leave themselves to an two or three
:33:47. > :33:54.on three at the back, Belgium, when they do go forward. Dispossessed,
:33:55. > :34:00.but not for long. Cortois hasn't had a save to make so far with half an
:34:01. > :34:03.hour played. They are just not holding onto the ball, the Republic
:34:04. > :34:09.of Ireland, at the moment. No sustained possession. Of course it
:34:10. > :34:13.could be a concern, but defensively organised, that is the first thing
:34:14. > :34:17.you see in the first 30 minutes of the game, that is dealt with now and
:34:18. > :34:35.then you move onto the phase of the match.
:34:36. > :34:45.Here is Hendrik, he hasn't been able to influence the game so far. Axel
:34:46. > :34:51.Witsel following his every move. I think there was a foul long before
:34:52. > :34:58.the referee actually gave it. He put him under pressure. This is an
:34:59. > :35:05.opportunity for Ireland to get your defendant -- defenders forward. A
:35:06. > :35:12.good chance here. The man who scored the goal against Sweden will try to
:35:13. > :35:16.be the provider here. Wes Hoolahan. The usual suspects up, Ciaran Clark,
:35:17. > :35:28.John O'Shea in the middle of the thicket of players in the Area as
:35:29. > :35:33.well. Neither header in the direction of Shane Long. There was
:35:34. > :35:37.only Shane Long making a run, but a free header, though, but as a
:35:38. > :35:42.warning for Belgium. It is something that the Republic of Ireland can
:35:43. > :35:44.play on a little bit as well. It is difficult if you have runners into
:35:45. > :35:57.good areas, it is difficult to defend. They conceded four goals in
:35:58. > :36:01.qualifying. In eight matches, to bow Cortois will need to be on his toes.
:36:02. > :36:08.Again, that final pass in towards Shane Long is lacking in a good
:36:09. > :36:10.position, and we can Belgium, suddenly it is the Republic of
:36:11. > :36:16.Ireland to have their backs against the ropes. Lukaku can't reach. He
:36:17. > :36:24.would have needed springs in his heels to get to that. A real break
:36:25. > :36:27.for the Republic of Ireland, but they get caught again, Seamus
:36:28. > :36:32.Coleman getting forward a little too readily, freeing up Hazard is down
:36:33. > :36:38.the left-hand side. Fortunately for Ireland, it fizzled out at the end,
:36:39. > :36:42.but Lukaku immediately pulling up Stephen Ward, recognising the ball
:36:43. > :36:43.could hang up to the far post. That is where we would want the attacking
:36:44. > :36:58.crosses. Beljan get a free kick for that. And
:36:59. > :37:06.not for the first time in the match, Shane Long is left scratching his
:37:07. > :37:10.head. Rubbing it, rather. Shane Long is going to be isolated, but the
:37:11. > :37:23.referee has got to recognise that when the ball is being played to
:37:24. > :37:28.him,. Meunier again loves to get involved in the attacking play.
:37:29. > :37:39.Kevin de Bruyne dispossessed by James McCarthy. Here is Ward.
:37:40. > :37:50.Hoolahan. Forward by Brady, in the long. No team-mate alongside, and
:37:51. > :37:54.the order of the general pattern of the game has been restored but you
:37:55. > :38:00.could buy Belgium as they are back in possession. Hazard more centrally
:38:01. > :38:14.placed at the moment, and now in possession. Kevin de Bruyne. Hazard
:38:15. > :38:22.has come out here now. That will give Brady and Ward something to
:38:23. > :38:25.think about. Belgium's throw-in. That is better from Brady, getting
:38:26. > :38:33.back into position early, helping Stephen Ward out.
:38:34. > :38:39.Hazard in to Meunier, and it will be a corner kick. , very good, tracking
:38:40. > :38:43.the run from Meunier getting forward. He felt that as well,
:38:44. > :38:54.Brady. Not surprised he is taking a few
:38:55. > :39:00.moments to regain his composure, having seen that. It is always a
:39:01. > :39:03.worry when a player goes down, but fortunately for every Republic of
:39:04. > :39:12.Ireland fan, it is not as serious as I first thought.
:39:13. > :39:20.Kevin de Bruyne's kick, and the header harmlessly wide of the goal.
:39:21. > :39:25.They have promised more than they have been able to deliver, Belgium.
:39:26. > :39:29.How much of that is due to solid defending from the Republic of
:39:30. > :39:34.Ireland? You touched on it before, there are a lot of white bodies in
:39:35. > :39:39.their nullifying the threat, forcing some distance. They haven't really
:39:40. > :39:42.tested are Randolph up until now, Belgium. So that is the positive
:39:43. > :39:49.that Martin O'Neill will take from this half. Just got to provide more
:39:50. > :39:56.of a threat. You can't sustain defending like this throughout.
:39:57. > :39:59.Lukaku did well to retain possession there. They have had a lot of heavy
:40:00. > :40:05.rain in Bordeaux in the last 24 hours or so.
:40:06. > :40:24.Kevin de Bruyne, it was just out of reach, but kept in play by Carrasco.
:40:25. > :40:31.Well, Carrasco has posed a threat from both flanks during the first
:40:32. > :40:35.half, one of the three changes made by Marc Wilmots today. First Belgian
:40:36. > :40:43.to score in the Champions League final. That all Madrid affair, but
:40:44. > :40:48.disappointingly for his team-mates and himself, lost on penalties. He
:40:49. > :40:53.does pose a threat, particularly on the left-hand side. He started on
:40:54. > :41:02.the right, but he has switched wings with Hazard. Another really good
:41:03. > :41:10.young player, just 22, Carrasco. Here is Dembele, Vertonghen.
:41:11. > :41:16.Vertonghen winning his 80th cap today. Witsel, Dembele, patient play
:41:17. > :41:29.here from Belgium. Meunier made an interesting little
:41:30. > :41:33.run on the right into the penalty area. All hands on deck here for the
:41:34. > :41:39.Republic of Ireland. Drilled in, deflected away to MLA, Axel Witsel
:41:40. > :41:44.with the shot, and it went off the back of Stephen Ward's head. Whelan
:41:45. > :41:48.volleys it clear up towards Shane Long, who is very much an isolated
:41:49. > :41:55.figure in white and the other halfway line. Forward by Ward. The
:41:56. > :41:59.spin of the ball hard to control. That is the difficulty at the
:42:00. > :42:04.moment. Ireland under so much pressure, playing so deep, Stephen
:42:05. > :42:09.Ward get his head up. It is such a difficult ball to get it over all
:42:10. > :42:14.through bodies. Shane Long with a perfect pass, very isolated at the
:42:15. > :42:19.moment. Witsel with plenty of time and space in the centre of the
:42:20. > :42:26.pitch. Kevin de Bruyne. It goes from Ward up to long. And Hoolahan caught
:42:27. > :42:32.out by Dembele, that will be a free kick. That is a heavy challenge from
:42:33. > :42:46.Dembele. Again, an easy option for Ward to find him, as well.
:42:47. > :43:07.And the referee from Turkey keeping his cards in his pocket so far. The
:43:08. > :43:11.tackle from behind. A rare chance to head up to the Belgian penalty area
:43:12. > :43:16.here with five minutes until half-time. That is oh Shea
:43:17. > :43:28.stretching for it. It is cleared away by Jan Vertonghen. Carrasco
:43:29. > :43:29.will chase. A good race, that, Carrasco and Coleman both very
:43:30. > :43:41.quick. Made it easy for Vermaelen. A quiet
:43:42. > :43:50.afternoon so far for Thibaut Cortois. Very quiet, if Ireland can
:43:51. > :43:53.keep it like this until half-time, Martin O'Neill will try to stress on
:43:54. > :43:58.his players about putting on the backline of pressure, and taking
:43:59. > :44:04.those shots perhaps against Cortois, he has done very little in this
:44:05. > :44:13.half. Witsel away from Jeff Hendrick, collected now by Yannick
:44:14. > :44:16.Carrasco. Beljan moving the ball around well, can find a potency in
:44:17. > :44:22.the final third that has been missing far? Hazard. Ripping that
:44:23. > :44:27.one in, and Ciaran Clark getting his foot to it, and no doubt relieved to
:44:28. > :44:30.have kept him well clear of his own goal after what happened the other
:44:31. > :44:34.day on more than one occasion. Yes, he did well in the end. A fizzing
:44:35. > :44:47.ball from Eden Hazard. Fourth corner from Belgium in this
:44:48. > :44:52.first half. Kevin de Bruyne with it, I had to the far post, headed away
:44:53. > :44:59.by Hoolahan. But Beljan will have a throw.
:45:00. > :45:03.So often we see teams line up without having a man on the post.
:45:04. > :45:08.The far post is the position you are most vulnerable.
:45:09. > :45:11.WHISTLE Two balls on the pitch at the same
:45:12. > :45:16.time here, the Belgian fans will be up in arms about that. And it is a
:45:17. > :45:22.yellow card for Jeff Hendrick. I think he is trying to say to Cuneyt
:45:23. > :45:29.Cakir that the ball was actually on the pitch. He could have kicked it
:45:30. > :45:33.off to his near touchline, couldn't he? Said it is a correct decision.
:45:34. > :45:41.You can't moan about it when that happens. Belgium have a free kick in
:45:42. > :45:42.a bad spot. On the Republic of Ireland are hanging on a little bit
:45:43. > :45:53.here as we head towards half-time. Wes Hoolahan is in the right spot to
:45:54. > :46:02.get the ball clear a few moments ago. -- was in the right spot.
:46:03. > :46:09.Whipped in by Kevin De Bruyne and over the top of Darren Randolph and
:46:10. > :46:15.over the net by Yan but ongoing. Not the worst effort from Jan
:46:16. > :46:24.Vertonghen. A little under head -- yam for Tongan. A little of balance
:46:25. > :46:31.trying to get it on target -- Jan Vertonghen. Difficult to get it on
:46:32. > :46:43.target, good effort, fortunately for Darren Randolph, wide of his goal.
:46:44. > :46:49.Shane Long. He encouraged the raft of the referee for that challenge.
:46:50. > :46:52.He is getting fouled early and first and the referee is not picking it up
:46:53. > :47:06.and he is getting frustrated up front at the moment. Jan Vertonghen.
:47:07. > :47:12.Carrasco. Seamus Coleman. We see so often him rampaging down the front
:47:13. > :47:19.for Everton but none of that in this game. I think it has helped his game
:47:20. > :47:24.defensively. He has improved. He has had injuries playing for Everton,
:47:25. > :47:27.not the greatest season for any Everton player this year, but
:47:28. > :47:31.defensively he has improved over the last two or three years. Alex
:47:32. > :47:52.Wetzel. -- Axel Witsel. Another corner kick
:47:53. > :48:02.for Belgium. He feels he should be a cross Ciaran Clark. He had his hand
:48:03. > :48:15.on Lukaku. Everyone is back for Republic of Ireland. Last few
:48:16. > :48:21.seconds of the opening 45 minutes. Wisely, Darren Randolph holds onto
:48:22. > :48:28.the ball. He allows the team to get back into position. Really good
:48:29. > :48:34.goalkeeping. And the referee blows the whistle. It is against Shane
:48:35. > :48:42.Long. He has had a very frustrating first half. The half-time whistle
:48:43. > :48:48.has been blown by the referee. I thought he had blown for the
:48:49. > :48:55.challenge on Carrasco. He has stayed on the floor. That is why Carrasco
:48:56. > :49:02.has stayed down, that will be very painful but it brings to the end the
:49:03. > :49:06.first half. He has blown his whistle rather a lot but has kept his cards
:49:07. > :49:10.mostly in his pocket and the Republic of Ireland have found it
:49:11. > :49:12.tough going but in the circumstances will be happy enough with the
:49:13. > :49:29.goalless score at half-time. No changes made by either coach at
:49:30. > :49:32.half-time. It is the Republic of Ireland who will get us under way.
:49:33. > :49:38.They were second best in the opening 45 minutes. Belgium for all their
:49:39. > :49:44.big names and possession could not find a way through and did not
:49:45. > :49:54.really create too much in front of Darren Randolph, the Republic of
:49:55. > :49:58.Ireland goalkeeper. Dries Mertens was warming up even when the others
:49:59. > :50:03.had gone in and it made us wonder if he was going to come on to replace
:50:04. > :50:10.Yannick Carrasco who got injured before the break. Michy Batshuayi
:50:11. > :50:18.was also involved in the warm up. Here is Glenn Whelan. Collected by
:50:19. > :50:22.Jeff Hendrick. Trying to get forward a little bit more. They offered no
:50:23. > :50:29.threat in the game, Thibaut Courtois has not got his gloves dirty at all.
:50:30. > :50:36.First touch of the second half for Yannick Carrasco. No file says the
:50:37. > :50:43.referee. Six of one, half a dozen of the other -- foul. A little tap from
:50:44. > :50:49.Stephen Ward. The Republic of Ireland get a free kick. They need
:50:50. > :50:54.to make a positive start after a long opening 45 minutes. It
:50:55. > :50:59.certainly was. No real goal threat or attacking threat from the
:51:00. > :51:02.Republic of Ireland. Robbie Brady and wears Houlihan are the players
:51:03. > :51:07.who can carry the ball and pick passes out and you would be relying
:51:08. > :51:14.on them for Ireland going forward -- Wes Hoolahan. Robbie Brady will take
:51:15. > :51:21.this. Here we go, in from Brady towards Shane Long who almost had
:51:22. > :51:26.his head taken of, very high but by Toby Alderweireld. Shane Long is
:51:27. > :51:33.still down. Ball in from Wes Hoolahan does not quite fall for
:51:34. > :51:39.Stephen Ward and away comes Lukaku. Kevin De Bruyne brings the ball in
:51:40. > :51:44.to the Irish have. Lukaku gets it could they are champs and it is the
:51:45. > :51:49.goal for Lukaku. Two minutes into the second half -- champs. The side
:51:50. > :51:53.ranked number two in the world have scored their first goal in the
:51:54. > :52:06.tournament and it has come from the big number nine -- chance. Belgium
:52:07. > :52:11.had brilliant feat from Kevin De Bruyne who gets himself into a great
:52:12. > :52:16.position and has the awareness and Romelu Lukaku knows what he wants to
:52:17. > :52:22.do. He gets it onto his left foot and he knows he can use John O'Shea
:52:23. > :52:28.to get it beyond Darren Randolph. Brilliantly worked goal by Belgium.
:52:29. > :52:33.Back to front. That was the problem Ireland had, at that susceptible to
:52:34. > :52:39.the counterattack when it comes to their own set play, disappointment
:52:40. > :52:49.for Ireland. Great news for Romelu Lukaku. While we were watching the
:52:50. > :52:53.scenes of celebration, supervisors have had to come and take a red
:52:54. > :53:00.flare from the plane servers which was thrown onto the pitch. A couple
:53:01. > :53:04.of flares have been set off by the Belgian supporters. Perfectly
:53:05. > :53:11.placed, that goal, created by Kevin De Bruyne. It could open up, Axel
:53:12. > :53:16.Witsel. Collected by Eden Hazard. Suddenly, the Republic of Ireland
:53:17. > :53:22.rocked back on their heels. Relieved that Kevin De Bruyne lost his
:53:23. > :53:28.footing. Jeff Hendrick. What sort of response will we get? Shane Long is
:53:29. > :53:33.down. He should get booked and he has. Thomas Vermaelen. The yellow
:53:34. > :53:38.carded by the referee. Shane Long looking to the referee, he is
:53:39. > :53:43.looking for a bit of support, he has been fouled constantly throughout
:53:44. > :53:48.the first half. Looking to the likes of Shane Long, Wes Hoolahan, Robbie
:53:49. > :54:00.Brady, they have to provide more of an attacking threat. Forward comes
:54:01. > :54:06.Stephen Ward, met by Meunier. Ironic that came after two very promising
:54:07. > :54:12.minutes from the Irish. There was a shout at that end for the high boot
:54:13. > :54:19.from Toby Alderweireld. I think he has got his boot very high. It
:54:20. > :54:25.frustrates you, anywhere else on the pitch, it would be a free kick. Here
:54:26. > :54:30.is Wes Hoolahan. He wants the ball played in but it is towards Shane
:54:31. > :54:34.Long and easily within range for a Thibaut Courtois who will throw the
:54:35. > :54:48.ball. It is with Eden Hazard, turning away inside Seamus Coleman.
:54:49. > :54:56.Kevin De Bruyne. Jan Vertonghen. A chance for a Lukaku, the first real
:54:57. > :54:59.shot on goal that would trouble AT Batshuayi. Perhaps he will start to
:55:00. > :55:13.play with the ability that we all know he has. -- Randolph. It escaped
:55:14. > :55:18.the clutches of Wes Hoolahan. Sloppy possession. Eden Hazard back to
:55:19. > :55:27.Carrasco. Kevin De Bruyne, three inside the penalty area. Carrasco,
:55:28. > :55:37.Axel Witsel. Lukaku being marked by Ciaran Clark at the moment.
:55:38. > :55:46.Jan Vertonghen, Carrasco, hobbled off at half-time but looks fine now.
:55:47. > :55:50.Such a good ball giving Robbie Brady the chance to get on his bike and
:55:51. > :55:56.away down the right-hand side with Wes Hoolahan and Shane Long waiting
:55:57. > :55:59.the centre. That is better from the Republic of Ireland and a Glenn
:56:00. > :56:03.Whelan fancies it, add little deflection, skid behind the goal for
:56:04. > :56:11.a corner kick for the Republic of Ireland. Much better for Ireland.
:56:12. > :56:15.Meunier is out of position. Utilising the space, he has the
:56:16. > :56:20.awareness and vision to pick out Glenn Whelan. Better moments for
:56:21. > :56:25.Ireland. I wondered what would happen, it is about five years since
:56:26. > :56:30.he last gored a goal for anyone. Perhaps not surprising that it did
:56:31. > :56:43.not end up in the back of the net -- scored a goal. Jeff Hendrick will
:56:44. > :56:56.take this one. Ciaran Clark is up for it. Now with James McCarthy.
:56:57. > :57:03.Glenn Whelan, drilling it straight to Axel Witsel and suddenly on the
:57:04. > :57:17.break, Belgium surging forward with Carrasco. Not surprisingly, it will
:57:18. > :57:25.be the Republic of Ireland's ball. Great workrate from Shane Long. He
:57:26. > :57:33.makes the challenge on Carrasco. Just provide a little bit of
:57:34. > :57:38.stability for Ireland. -- provides. Shane Long has covered plenty of
:57:39. > :57:44.ground but has not got the reward. Little joy throughout this game. An
:57:45. > :57:56.isolated figure at times. Jeff Hendrick, a bit of space in the
:57:57. > :58:01.middle of the field. McCarthy. Jeff Hendrick with Seamus Coleman outside
:58:02. > :58:04.running up to the edge of the penalty area. Seamus Coleman cannot
:58:05. > :58:08.quite deliver the ball into the danger area in a billing Thomas
:58:09. > :58:15.Vermaelen to get it clear. That was a bit better. Looks better, good
:58:16. > :58:21.awareness from Jeff Hendrick. Wes Hoolahan. Jeff Hendrick almost
:58:22. > :58:26.carrying it inside, a shout for handball. The referee was in a good
:58:27. > :58:36.position to see, Carrasco gets it a way. Calm and assured from Belgium
:58:37. > :59:01.in possession. -- gets it to a wave. Eden Hazard. -- away.
:59:02. > :59:09.Kevin De Bruyne are, in toward Lukaku, cut out by Ciaran Clark,
:59:10. > :59:14.Stephen Ward should clear it despite the fact that Lukaku is bearing down
:59:15. > :59:20.on him. Toby Alderweireld, getting the better of Shane Long, did not
:59:21. > :59:33.quite fall for the Irish Tiger and Axel Witsel finds Jan Vertonghen.
:59:34. > :59:35.Marc Wilmots is very agitated -- for the Irish striker. Axel Witsel with
:59:36. > :59:43.the sharp straight at Darren Randolph. Belgium want the game
:59:44. > :59:49.stopped, Marc Wilmots is waving at Darren Randolph. Jeff Hendrick is
:59:50. > :00:00.still in possession -- once the game. Spot on as well. Here comes
:00:01. > :00:05.Jeff Hendrick. Meunier gets his foot on the ball, Mousa Dembele is still
:00:06. > :00:13.down. Finally the ball is out of play. The referee had a good look.
:00:14. > :00:21.Marc Wilmots is on the sideline screaming at Mousa Dembele. Belgium
:00:22. > :00:24.continue to play. They are going to bring on Radja Nainggolan. I was
:00:25. > :00:33.very surprised he was left out of the team at the start by the coach.
:00:34. > :00:38.There wasn't much he done about that. I don't think that is
:00:39. > :00:58.handball. Dembele, who is one of those brought
:00:59. > :01:06.into the team today, will be very frustrated at having to leave the
:01:07. > :01:08.field. Nainggolan more than capable of filling his shoes as he comes on,
:01:09. > :01:22.the 28-year-old from Roma. He is a real box to box player, gets
:01:23. > :01:23.the supporting, but he will have the added responsibility of defensive
:01:24. > :01:36.duties as he comes on. Nainggolan is a much admired player
:01:37. > :01:40.by Antonio Conte, the new Chelsea manager.
:01:41. > :02:03.He played his football in Italy since 17 years of age. I wonder how
:02:04. > :02:11.much longer he will be in Syria -- Serie A. Oh Shea just getting ahead
:02:12. > :02:19.of him, but Hazard picks up the pieces. A little loose with a pass,
:02:20. > :02:22.forward by Ward. This is better from Brady, gaining some ground, and
:02:23. > :02:27.again, you can't quite find Jeff Hendrick, and it has been a story of
:02:28. > :02:34.nearly but not quite in terms of possession as they go into the final
:02:35. > :02:40.third throughout the match. Yes, it is just over hit with that telling
:02:41. > :02:45.pass. Have been playing for nearly an hour. Just the one goal in the
:02:46. > :02:52.game, scored by Romelu Lukaku just after half-time. Hendrick, again,
:02:53. > :02:58.with a little more room, and Coleman getting forward in that wind -- in
:02:59. > :03:05.behind Hazard here. Here is Hoolahan. Up towards Shane Long,
:03:06. > :03:12.Brady with the shot, it effects of Meunier. He could have headed first
:03:13. > :03:19.time, Brady, once he takes the touch, he allows Tevenet to get the
:03:20. > :03:22.block. Stephen Ward will take the throw, freshly promoted to the
:03:23. > :03:28.Premier League with Burnley. Good movement from Whelan.
:03:29. > :03:36.Again, Belgium can't quite get rid of the ball. Hoolahan unable to find
:03:37. > :03:42.a way through, has some support. It is too long for Shane Long. Off the
:03:43. > :03:44.head of Jan Vertonghen. That is not the natural instinct for Jeff
:03:45. > :03:54.Hendrick to get in on the back of that.
:03:55. > :03:59.Belgium able to pass their way out of trouble, and suddenly into a much
:04:00. > :04:10.more promising position here with which all. -- Axel Witsel.
:04:11. > :04:20.He has had a very strange season for Chelsea, Hazard, so good last year,
:04:21. > :04:46.and then it was almost a year to the day between league goals.
:04:47. > :04:51.The fans who have travelled doing their best for the boys in green,
:04:52. > :04:58.trying to lift their spirits and urge them on to even greater
:04:59. > :05:04.efforts. Has just holds back, with Carrasco away on that far side.
:05:05. > :05:12.Lukaku the only one in the penalty area at the moment. And it is 2-0!
:05:13. > :05:17.They are all looking at Lukaku, and Axel Witsel burst in to head home,
:05:18. > :05:23.and suddenly it looks a very long way back for the Republic of Ireland
:05:24. > :05:24.in this match. Beljan 2-0 Republic of Ireland, Axel Witsel with half an
:05:25. > :05:35.hour to go. That is far too easy. Drifting from
:05:36. > :05:39.the edge of the penalty area, Witsel, free header. Nobody picks
:05:40. > :05:49.the run or tracks it. Once he plays it wide, he just runs off. It is the
:05:50. > :05:53.back of my Carthey, and McCarthy doesn't see his run, it is a good
:05:54. > :05:59.all in from Meunier put it to a good area. McCarthy have got to track the
:06:00. > :06:03.run, and if he doesn't, he has to take a shout from behind him to
:06:04. > :06:07.leave it, and he doesn't do either. Randolph got a hand to it, he is
:06:08. > :06:16.unlucky at the end, but that was a poor golf Ireland to concede.
:06:17. > :06:25.And Axel Witsel, part of the Belgian team here at this championship,
:06:26. > :06:39.scores on his 70th appearance for Belgium.
:06:40. > :06:47.So, James McCarthy has gone off for the Republic of Ireland and is
:06:48. > :06:55.replaced by James McClean. Here is Martin O'Neill, a quick reaction,
:06:56. > :07:01.quick change, reaction to that second goal going in. He had to,
:07:02. > :07:05.really force up James McCarthy not really able to get involved from an
:07:06. > :07:10.attacking point of view, creativity wise, keeping hold of the ball.
:07:11. > :07:16.James McClean gives Ireland a different option going forward with
:07:17. > :07:24.his pace and energy. He needs to set the tone for the last 20 minutes of
:07:25. > :07:30.this game, create a spark. Another change heifer Beljan, Dries Mertens
:07:31. > :07:35.is going to come on, and Carrasco will go off. He has done well, he
:07:36. > :07:41.struggled to get off the pitch at half-time after a heavy tackle
:07:42. > :07:47.caught him on his foot. That is the one there, a heavy challenge from
:07:48. > :07:53.long. Very. So, Carrasco leaves the field, and Dries Mertens coming on
:07:54. > :07:56.to replace him. He came on for the last half an hour against Italy,
:07:57. > :08:00.more or less doing the same year today. He has had a somewhat reduced
:08:01. > :08:08.role with his club side this season, only half a dozen of his 33 Italian
:08:09. > :08:13.league appearances were starts, but nonetheless, he got himself to a
:08:14. > :08:18.hat-trick against Bologna a few weeks before the end of the season,
:08:19. > :08:25.and years have the chance to have a go at the best part of half an hour
:08:26. > :08:34.here. He made an impact in the Italy match as well, coming off the bench.
:08:35. > :08:43.Meunier has something different to think back now that James McClean is
:08:44. > :08:46.all the pitch. Meunier will have a more direct runner coming straight
:08:47. > :08:54.at him now, Brady has moved his sights slightly. McClane trim off
:08:55. > :09:00.the bench against Sweden in the last 25 minutes. He has been used as a
:09:01. > :09:03.striker in the last four or five friendlies for the Republic of
:09:04. > :09:07.Ireland, and he has done a good job when he has played there, so there
:09:08. > :09:12.is an option that if there is a real urgency to go forward, he could do
:09:13. > :09:16.that role. They are pushing forward again, this time it is oh Shea, the
:09:17. > :09:22.man who only just came off the bench! First touch here from a
:09:23. > :09:27.claim. Looking for Shane Long. Long gets his head on that one, but it
:09:28. > :09:34.doesn't fall kindly for Ireland. Taken away by Vertonghen, now
:09:35. > :09:37.Hazard. He gets a free kick from the Turkish referee. He has pressure
:09:38. > :10:03.from Coleman obviously. Hoping to switch the play, and only
:10:04. > :10:10.finding the head of Ward. He is giving Meunier are more difficult
:10:11. > :10:14.time, I think. As we said before, Ireland are looking for a spark, and
:10:15. > :10:17.could it be McClane the gives it to them? There has been very little to
:10:18. > :10:23.talk about going forward for Ireland from an attacking point of view.
:10:24. > :10:31.Pretty easily snuffed out most times so far. Here is Wes Hoolahan now.
:10:32. > :10:37.Ward's delivery into long, trying to lay it off the Hendrik. It is
:10:38. > :10:45.slightly short. Collected by Coleman. Now it is with Brady.
:10:46. > :10:49.Trying to get his chest on the ball, back out to Seamus Coleman, trying
:10:50. > :10:54.to get the better of Vertonghen. He has done well, but couldn't quite
:10:55. > :11:02.chip the tall figure of Thibaut Cortois. Looking to just stand up to
:11:03. > :11:08.the far post. A little shout of handball from the Irish supporters.
:11:09. > :11:15.I could see you were itching for a second look at that one!
:11:16. > :11:23.Won back by Nainggolan. Our Belgium now going to start to play the sort
:11:24. > :11:26.of football that we know that they are capable of from here on in as
:11:27. > :11:31.they settle into this tournament last? Very underwhelming against
:11:32. > :11:40.Italy, this is much more like it from them. Nainggolan. And the
:11:41. > :11:49.scorer of the second goal, Axel Witsel. Here is Dries Mertens, an
:11:50. > :11:55.interception there from McClane. Hendrik is a little uncertain of
:11:56. > :12:02.where to go. McClean knows where he is going, he is heading straight for
:12:03. > :12:06.the goal. If the ball is good, he has half a chance here. But it
:12:07. > :12:09.wasn't quite good enough. It is a brilliant run from him, but there is
:12:10. > :12:11.only one body in the penalty area for him to hit once he gets his head
:12:12. > :12:22.on. Decisive player from James McClean,
:12:23. > :12:29.but here come Belgium once more. That was tumbling away from the
:12:30. > :12:32.goal. You don't want it to be any more, it could affect goal
:12:33. > :12:40.difference come the end of the group as well. Italy still to come. Yes,
:12:41. > :12:50.and they are on six points, there is a chance. Conte suggested he will
:12:51. > :13:09.make changes. He momentarily got a foot in, but it
:13:10. > :13:14.is all Belgium here. There will be another change shortly from the
:13:15. > :13:25.Republic. Very much on the front foot, Belgium, looking for the third
:13:26. > :13:28.goal. Lukaku to Hazard. Sent in by Meunier, but a little too- Dries
:13:29. > :13:36.Mertens. It wasn't the worst of balls froms two. He just started his
:13:37. > :13:40.run little early. Either way, Aiden McGeady is preparing to come on
:13:41. > :13:44.shortly. Stephen Ward stretches his legs and goes into the Belgian half
:13:45. > :13:56.of the field. Hendrik wants the ball, and gets it. McClean is on the
:13:57. > :14:09.far side if they need him. Here is McClane up against many. -- Meunier.
:14:10. > :14:15.And Meunier gets the better of that dual, and here Ciaran Clark is
:14:16. > :14:21.committed, Belgium are threatening a third goal, Lukaku, it must be
:14:22. > :14:26.three, and it is! Lukaku's second in the game, and there won't be coming
:14:27. > :14:35.back from this. Belgium 3-0 Republic of Ireland.
:14:36. > :14:41.Well, Ciaran Clark in that position, he has got to recognise that if he
:14:42. > :14:46.doesn't get to the ball first, Ireland are in a world of pain.
:14:47. > :14:49.Jumping in for a challenge like that out wide, allowing Hazard to get
:14:50. > :14:53.away from him. As soon as James McClean gives the ball away here,
:14:54. > :14:59.the Republic of Ireland are in trouble. And as soon as Ciaran Clark
:15:00. > :15:06.goes in for this challenge, that is it. You retreat there, you are
:15:07. > :15:12.cautious, you don't need to go in and make the challenge. You keep the
:15:13. > :15:17.numbers in your favour, keep it at two on two, but Hazard is too quick,
:15:18. > :15:22.too aware, and once he picks I Lukaku, the form he is in, a simple
:15:23. > :15:29.tackle at the end of it. Again, another poor Ireland Gold concede.
:15:30. > :15:35.And just as before, the immediate reaction to a goal going in, there
:15:36. > :15:39.has been another change made in that aftermath by O'Neill. Aiden McGeady
:15:40. > :15:42.has now come on to replace Wes Hoolahan, although McGeady was
:15:43. > :15:49.already waiting to join the fray before that third goal went in. It
:15:50. > :15:50.is turning into a very long afternoon in Bordeaux for the
:15:51. > :16:06.Republic of Ireland here. Stephen Ward with the delivery into
:16:07. > :16:14.Shane Long. It is a way, a gap is opening up, plane into the hands of
:16:15. > :16:22.the Belgians now -- away. -- playing. They have to keep their
:16:23. > :16:27.composure now. You do not want to concede again, it could have a
:16:28. > :16:32.bearing come the end of the group. They could get a drubbing here. The
:16:33. > :16:37.outlook of the tournament changing greatly for Belgium and new sense,
:16:38. > :16:42.it does not mean they do not have problems in terms of their cohesion
:16:43. > :16:46.that they have bags of talent and the confidence will be flowing after
:16:47. > :16:51.scoring three goals and they may even have time to score another one
:16:52. > :16:59.tween now and the end of the match. That is the one that led to this
:17:00. > :17:05.goal by Lukaku following this challenge by Toby Alderweireld. That
:17:06. > :17:08.is a poor goal to concede, no communication, McCarthy allowing him
:17:09. > :17:22.to run off him. At the other end of the field, they
:17:23. > :17:28.have not looked remotely like scoring. Not at all. That is
:17:29. > :17:32.disappointing, Martin O'Neill teaches them to be organised and
:17:33. > :17:37.disciplined that they have always carried a threat, but today, 70
:17:38. > :17:57.minutes in, no real threat at all from Ireland. Jeff Hendrick.
:17:58. > :18:12.Stephen Ward with Maclean prepared to make a run ahead of him. --
:18:13. > :18:26.McClean. Jeff Hendrick. First touch for Aiden McGeady. Can Ireland at
:18:27. > :18:34.least get on the board? Thibaut Courtois has stop them doing it so
:18:35. > :18:43.far. Jeff Hendrick, Marshall, Brady, a touch in two Aiden McGeady. In the
:18:44. > :18:50.end, the final ball is lacking for Jeff Hendrick. Ireland's problems
:18:51. > :18:55.have not all been of Belgian's making, in terms of the way they
:18:56. > :19:03.pass the ball. Giving it away, sloppy passes going forwards, when
:19:04. > :19:07.they have been in wide positions, poor crossing. This has all come
:19:08. > :19:12.from when they have had comfortable possession could. You have to look
:19:13. > :19:19.at yourself as an individual on the pitch. Take off your Ireland hat,
:19:20. > :19:25.what have you made of Belgian in terms of the way they look and the
:19:26. > :19:29.tournament as a whole? We know they have got individually one of the
:19:30. > :19:34.best sides out there, it collectively they have not always
:19:35. > :19:39.show that, but today we have seen a very good Belgian side, a very good
:19:40. > :19:46.Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, it Eden Hazard playing with freedom,
:19:47. > :19:49.enjoying his football. It is what we expected from them. That was the
:19:50. > :19:56.disappointing thing, seeing them against Italy. He has started to
:19:57. > :20:08.make things happen since coming off the bench. Dries Mertens has been
:20:09. > :20:22.very lively since coming off the bench. As you can see, Robbie Keane
:20:23. > :20:26.preparing to come on. Off the bench for the last 12 minutes against
:20:27. > :20:35.Sweden, getting a little longer this time. All-time record goal scorer.
:20:36. > :20:51.All-time record number of appearances as well for the Republic
:20:52. > :20:55.of Ireland. Nainggolan. Back for the Republic of Ireland, collected by
:20:56. > :21:06.Shane Long into Jeff Hendrick, a fraction of a second too long, Kevin
:21:07. > :21:11.De Bruyne, on his game today. Eden Hazard letting it run to Ciaran
:21:12. > :21:18.Clark who gave it away to Dries Mertens. All our unveils will be
:21:19. > :21:31.ringing at the back for Ireland. -- alarm bells. Eden Hazard. Jan
:21:32. > :21:40.Vertonghen in space for Belgium. Kevin De Bruyne covering plenty of
:21:41. > :21:46.grounds. Held up by Aiden McGeady. 13 minutes to go. Belgium with a
:21:47. > :22:03.decidedly comfortable three goal lead. Glenn Whelan into Brady. Away
:22:04. > :22:16.from Alex Witsel. This is Jeff Hendrick. Away to Aiden McGeady. Out
:22:17. > :22:20.for a corner kick. Better from Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady. Here
:22:21. > :22:25.comes at Robbie Keane now for what remains of the match, he will
:22:26. > :22:31.replace Shane Long who looks very disappointed as he wanders off. He
:22:32. > :22:36.has worked very hard but without any great reward, very much an isolated
:22:37. > :22:43.figure upfront for long periods in the game. Very much so. Perhaps keep
:22:44. > :22:51.his legs for a big game against Italy. They will have to stretch the
:22:52. > :22:56.Italians. Robbie Keane is 35 now but he certainly knows where the goal
:22:57. > :23:03.is. Amazing record, 67 for the Republic of Ireland. He will give
:23:04. > :23:06.the fans are little something to cheer if he can get on the end of
:23:07. > :23:11.the ball inside the box between now and the final whistle. Good job for
:23:12. > :23:20.Ireland that Seamus Coleman was on the ballplayer. Could have been
:23:21. > :23:27.stretched on the break. Ball flicked in and James McClean. Thibaut
:23:28. > :23:30.Courtois gathered. A difficult chance, no real pace on the cross.
:23:31. > :23:51.Dries Mertens. It looks like Christian Benteke will
:23:52. > :23:58.be sitting on the bench for the next game, Romelu Lukaku doing so well.
:23:59. > :24:08.They might get another chance, Dries Mertens gets away from Glenn Whelan.
:24:09. > :24:13.What a handful he has been! Yes, he has. Excellent introduction to the
:24:14. > :24:19.game, far too easy, though. Gets himself into a good position, good
:24:20. > :24:26.pressure. Forced the strike off target.
:24:27. > :24:54.For all the disappointment etched on the face of Martin O'Neill, they are
:24:55. > :25:00.playing a very good team here. Yes and I think Martin O'Neill said from
:25:01. > :25:05.the outset, of course, a difficult group, Belgium were always going to
:25:06. > :25:09.be the most difficult team to play against. Very surprising how well
:25:10. > :25:12.they played in the first match against Belgium but with the
:25:13. > :25:18.individual talent they have, it was always going to be difficult for
:25:19. > :25:24.Ireland. Hence that tinge of frustration. You have got to win
:25:25. > :25:40.when you are on top of games, hit on your dominance. Stephen Ward. Glenn
:25:41. > :25:48.Whelan. Staying right back in with a Ciaran Clark and John O'Shea.
:25:49. > :25:52.Looking for a Seamus Coleman, trying to get forward, put out by Jan
:25:53. > :25:57.Vertonghen, now it is with Aiden McGeady. Belgium are preparing to
:25:58. > :26:03.make a late change. Jeff Hendrick, Brady, Robbie Brady! Struck his own
:26:04. > :26:10.player there, Jeff Hendrick ends up on the floor with a stinging
:26:11. > :26:15.earholes. Robbie Brady looking to bend it beyond Thibaut Courtois.
:26:16. > :26:20.Romelu Lukaku will not get the terms to score a hat-trick. Two goals is
:26:21. > :26:29.certainly enough to be getting on with. Belgium scoring their first
:26:30. > :26:34.goals at the finals since 2000. The first one of them scored by Lukaku
:26:35. > :26:40.who also added the third, two goals for him and onto the field to
:26:41. > :26:50.replace him, Christian Benteke. He had a difficult first year. He
:26:51. > :26:55.knows, he was the number one striker for Belgium one year ago. He is
:26:56. > :27:03.still considered hot property here in Belgium. Liverpool paid enough
:27:04. > :27:09.money for him, ?32 million. Very good goal scoring record with Aston
:27:10. > :27:22.Villa, 42 goals in Robbie Brady 's. He has proved it,. He has won the
:27:23. > :27:26.ball back, puts it towards Eden Hazard. Excellent touch, Alex
:27:27. > :27:33.Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Mertens to the right. Lovely twist
:27:34. > :27:37.and turn from Kevin De Bruyne. Slack in possession there, Glenn Whelan.
:27:38. > :27:41.No awareness around him. Christian Benteke did so well to get back,
:27:42. > :27:47.when the ball from him. That is where they have been a real threat
:27:48. > :27:52.today, Belgium. When Ireland had possession, it has not been great,
:27:53. > :27:55.but when Ireland have thrown bodies forward, Belgium have recognised
:27:56. > :27:58.that and counter attacked so well. It is more like the Belgium we
:27:59. > :28:12.thought we were going to see at the Euros in this match. Robbie Keane.
:28:13. > :28:17.Free kick. Given away by Nainggolan. Again, the referee has done his best
:28:18. > :28:21.to stay out of things in this game. He has allowed it to float, one or
:28:22. > :28:23.two decisions either way could have been fouls but he has tried to let
:28:24. > :28:37.it flow. Reluctantly, the wall moved five
:28:38. > :29:05.yards back to ten there. Inside the last six minutes of the
:29:06. > :29:12.game. James McClean for Ireland. It will be a goal kick. Thibaut
:29:13. > :29:18.Courtois still has not had a save to make. 35 yards out. Difficult one to
:29:19. > :29:24.really trouble Thibaut Courtois at that distance. It was the same with
:29:25. > :29:34.the free kick for Gareth Bale against England. You need to line up
:29:35. > :29:43.a wall. In the air by John O'Shea. Stephen Ward. Five minutes to go,
:29:44. > :29:45.plus added time. Five minutes that will not change the outcome of this
:29:46. > :30:04.game, Dries Mertens. Jeff Hendrick. He can come out of
:30:05. > :30:09.this game with a little bit of credit, worked hard, kept the ball
:30:10. > :30:21.well. He wants the ball back from Seamus Coleman.
:30:22. > :30:31.Glenn Whelan clearly not happy with the options before him there.
:30:32. > :30:38.Could have had a run from deep there to try to get in behind them. But
:30:39. > :30:41.all is not lost with the Italian game, as we were saying a few
:30:42. > :30:48.minutes ago. With one point already in the back, it could prove vital.
:30:49. > :30:51.Italy will probably make changes, but regardless of that, I think
:30:52. > :30:56.Martin O'Neill will have digestive the performance against Sweden and
:30:57. > :31:00.think, there is a real chance that we could actually go and get
:31:01. > :31:04.something in that match. They have to win now, I think we all know
:31:05. > :31:17.that. They have done OK against Italy in the past once or twice for
:31:18. > :31:21.is. Yes, in 1994. It looks as though the Republic of Ireland will have to
:31:22. > :31:26.wait a little longer to beat Belgium. They have waited 50 years
:31:27. > :31:36.so far since their last success against them. Benteke. The last few
:31:37. > :31:42.minutes of the game. A clear-cut win for the Belgians. Chalk and cheese,
:31:43. > :31:46.the emotions for them compare to their first offering in the
:31:47. > :31:51.tournament, when they were totally tactically outclassed by the
:31:52. > :31:55.Italians. They looked very underwhelming, disjointed, an
:31:56. > :32:01.harmonious bunch by the end of it, but this is much more like it. Kevin
:32:02. > :32:02.de Bruyne are trying to find Benteke, the interception made by
:32:03. > :32:25.John O'Shea. McGeady. Hendrik just looking for the run
:32:26. > :32:30.made by Robbie Keane. He will play away behind Thomas Vermaelen.
:32:31. > :32:34.Vermaelen had quite a physical duel with Shane Long particularly in the
:32:35. > :32:38.first half. You felt that was the only way in for the Republic of
:32:39. > :32:40.Ireland here to try to get Shane Long in behind, but credit to
:32:41. > :32:49.Vermaelen, he stood up to that task really well.
:32:50. > :33:11.Not surprisingly, it is the Belgian supporters making all the noise
:33:12. > :33:17.behind the goal. Sliding back into wards Benteke. Excellent for
:33:18. > :33:22.Randolph, saw the danger and dealt with it. You mentioned a couple of
:33:23. > :33:37.times, since he has come on, he has had an impact on the match, pushing
:33:38. > :33:44.for a starting place. Coleman finding McGeady. There is nowhere to
:33:45. > :33:50.go. Just about managing to keep the ball in play. Excellent from Seamus
:33:51. > :33:56.Coleman, done really well. And over the top from Stephen Ward. He did
:33:57. > :34:10.well there, Ward. Seize the cross from common early, but it has pretty
:34:11. > :34:13.much been Ireland's day. Belgium fans will be in good spirits in the
:34:14. > :34:18.centre of Bordeaux later on this evening. But they won't be the only
:34:19. > :34:24.ones out on the town. Win, lose or draw, they will still be out. Still
:34:25. > :34:25.enjoying their visit to this beautiful city. Three minutes of
:34:26. > :34:47.added time. McClean. Is there time for a
:34:48. > :34:49.consolation goal here? Robbie Keane. He has some support, Jeff Hendrick
:34:50. > :34:58.one of the players providing it. Inadvertently striking Robbie Brady
:34:59. > :35:22.with that one. McGeady up against Vertonghen. The
:35:23. > :35:26.ball didn't quite spin out for a corner, it will be a throw. What a
:35:27. > :35:38.colourful site those Belgian supporters are.
:35:39. > :35:46.And there was a foul, Hazard. Coleman looked as though he was
:35:47. > :35:52.trying to get his shirt a couple of minutes early there. Hazard will be
:35:53. > :36:03.quite happy to see Seamus Coleman going like that, he didn't really
:36:04. > :36:11.need to make the challenge, Hazard. Romelu Lukaku, a good day at the
:36:12. > :36:17.office. How do you feel about things at the end of this game from
:36:18. > :36:21.Republic of Ireland's point of view? It didn't make too much difference,
:36:22. > :36:25.this game. You obviously don't want to take a heavy defeat, but it was
:36:26. > :36:29.all going to come down to that Italy match anyway, so you have to make an
:36:30. > :36:33.impression in that game, and that is maybe the out shot from it all, the
:36:34. > :36:38.one real chance that the Republic of Ireland have got going into that
:36:39. > :36:45.match. Overall, today has been very poor, in possession, slack.
:36:46. > :36:49.Creativity was slack as well, no real spark in the side, so I am
:36:50. > :36:53.looking for a lot more, real response from Ireland going into the
:36:54. > :36:58.Italy match. Here is Robbie Brady trying to find an opening, still
:36:59. > :37:06.going. Last few seconds of the game in added time. Could be a chance for
:37:07. > :37:11.a big Edie and pharmacy behind for a goal kick. And that will probably be
:37:12. > :37:17.it from Ireland's interview in this game. A disappointing afternoon.
:37:18. > :37:20.Very disappointing. Extremely disappointing for Martin O'Neill and
:37:21. > :37:30.his staff, the supporters and players of course.
:37:31. > :37:38.WHISTLE The referee blows the final whistle,
:37:39. > :37:44.a disappointing afternoon for the boys in green. Well beaten today.
:37:45. > :37:48.Belgium certainly turned up for this match, it was just the sort of
:37:49. > :37:51.performance we were expected to see from the going into this tournament,
:37:52. > :37:55.and in the end they ran out comfortable winners with three
:37:56. > :37:59.second-half goals, Roma Lukaku scoring two of them, Axel Witsel the
:38:00. > :38:05.other one, and the Republic of Ireland failing to trouble Chievo
:38:06. > :38:09.Cortois in the Belgian goal. So it is one point from two matches, still
:38:10. > :38:12.all to play for. Italy next, but well beaten by the Belgians. Belgium
:38:13. > :38:30.3-0 Republic of Ireland. Catch all the action from
:38:31. > :38:36.Euro 2016 across the BBC. Radio 5 Live or the BBC Sport
:38:37. > :38:40.website.