Shea Charles, Ryan Manning and Finn Azaz’s respective countries lost in their qualifiers on Thursday, ending their World Cup hopes.
Southampton players Shea Charles (Northern Ireland) and Ryan Manning, as well as Finn Azaz (Republic of Ireland), all had their World Cup hopes ended on Thursday night, after their countries lost out on penalties.
Manning and Azaz were culpable for huge errors that prolonged Ireland’s wait for a World Cup place, while Shea Charles’ Northern Ireland expectedly lost to giants Italy.
While the players went out of World Cup contention, they won’t be returning to club duty just yet, unfortunately for Southampton.
Azaz and Manning at the forefront of Ireland mistakes
Ireland were 2-0 up in their game before disaster struck. Southampton left back Ryan Manning dragged down Ladislav Krejci and gifted Czech striker Patrik Schick a penalty goal to get them back into it.
Wolves defender Krejci then scored in the final stages of the game, to take the game to extra time and penalties.
Into a shootout it went, but Finn Azaz had his effort from twelve yards out saved before Czech Republic forward Jan Kliment fired the decisive kick past Caoimhin Kelleher to break Irish hearts.
Ireland play again on Tuesday in another friendly, which means Azaz and Manning won’t return until a couple of days before the FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal.
You have to feel for the pair, who will be feeling down in the dumps after their costly errors on Thursday night. For Southampton’s sake, Tonda Eckert will hope to get the pair back into the form that they’ve been in for the past couple of months at club level.
Charles impresses but Northern Ireland go out
Shea Charles impressed in Northern Ireland’s semi-final game against Italy, but his nation failed to reach the World Cup once again, and is now 40 years without reaching the competition.
Northern Ireland’s side against the Azzuri was an average age of 22.5 years; you have to feel for Charles, who, as a player, is much more mature than his age suggests.
Northern Ireland will also play in another friendly, so Charles won’t return to Southampton for a few days.
Luckily for the club, Daniel Peretz’s international period is over, after a pre-planned substitution at half-time on Israeli duty was his only action of the break.
Saints boss Tonda Eckert will be anticipating all his players out on duty returning as soon as possible, as the club awaits a huge two weeks against Arsenal, and seventh and eighth placed sides Wrexham and Derby in the Championship.