Belgium vs Republic of Ireland match report: Defeat leaves Martin O'Neill's side in search of a new hero

The Republic of Ireland will have to reprise one of the greatest results in their history if they are to reach the knock-out stages of Euro 2016. In Lille, on Wednesday, Martin O’Neill’s team have to beat Italy, who they famously defeated in the 1994 World Cup finals in New Jersey. That seems unlikely in the wake of this comprehensive defeat to a revived Belgian side, but Italy are already guaranteed top spot in Group E and coach Antonio Conte has said he will rest players.

Ireland will need to play better and produce more of a goal threat, and also enjoy the luck of the Irish that eluded them here. Early in the second half Shane Long was caught in the head by a raised boot from Toby Alderweireld. Many referees would have given a penalty, Cuneyt Cakir did not even stop play while Long lay on the ground.

The West Brom striker was still holding his scalp when Belgium won the ball back and broke at speed. Romelu Lukaku fed Kevin de Bruyne on the right and drove into the box where De Bruyne picked him out. Lukaku, so wayward against Italy last week, steered his shot neatly inside Darren Randolph’s right-hand post.

Hitherto Ireland had kept a tense Belgium side at bay without ever threatening a goal themselves. Now they were forced to push forward and their opponents, the pressure lifted from their shoulders, ruthlessly picked them off. Around the hour mark Thomas Meunier - the only man on the pitch playing in his nation’s domestic league - was given time to pick out a cross and Axel Witsel ran off the ball-watching James McCarthy to head in.

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The third arrived ten minutes later. Meunier robbed McLean by the Belgian byeline, and released Eden Hazard who skipped over a reckless Ciaran Clark challenge, drew John O’Shea, then rolled the ball across for Lukaku’s second.

Victory was greeted with joy and relief by a Belgian side which came into the game beset by suggestions that the players are disunited and manager Marc Wilmots inept. For this match Wilmots had shuffled his pack of aces, hoping to find a balanced hand. In came Tottenham’s Moussa Dembele for Chelsea target Radja Nainggolan in midfield, winger Yannick Carrasco for Marouane Fellaini, and for Laurent Ciman at right-back, Meunier.

Just as significant was the switch to the No.10 role of De Bruyne. This left Hazard wide left but, with the addition of Carrasco, gave Belgium a more balanced, less narrow, attack.

O’Neill made one, enforced change, bringing in Stephen Ward for the injured Jon Walters with Robbie Brady moving into midfield

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The game quickly settled into a pattern of Belgian possession and Irish defence, interspersed with occasional counter-attacks. De Bruyne was at the heart of most good Belgian moves but Ireland defended diligently, pressing quickly when it was on, and largely kept the Belgians in front of them.

Nevertheless, they were fortunate not to go behind midway through the opening half when John O’Shea, heading a De Bruyne cross away from Lukaku, could only divert it to Hazard ten yards out. The Chelsea player, normally so precise, thrashed his shot over.

Otherwise the best chances came from De Bruyne’s set-plays. A Witsel header was calmly headed off the line by Wes Hoolahan while Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen also went close.

For Ireland Long was a willing, and able target man, but too often left isolated with his teammates struggling to gain meaningful possession. When Ireland did get into dangerous positions they were too slow and Thibaut Courtois went untroubled.

The Chelsea ‘keeper was just as at ease in the second period, but Randolph was busy, far too busy. Ireland have not beaten Belgium since 1966, and never in a competitive match. They have not won in the Euros since beating England in 1988, a run of two draws and five defeats. The man who scored then was Ray Houghton, as it was in New Jersey in 1994. Now they need a new hero to step up.