Ian Wright was critical of Tottenham and Everton duo, Matt Doherty and Seamus Coleman, for their defending during the Republic of Ireland’s 2-2 draw against Belgium in their international friendly on Saturday.
Michy Batshuayi opened the scoring when he cut onto his right foot, from the left channel, as Wright felt Coleman ‘didn’t do enough’ to stop the Chelsea man from shooting and Doherty was ‘ambling back’ to his defensive position.
Belgium have already booked their place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, so Roberto Martinez was able to rest some of his big guns.
That included the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, whilst the Republic of Ireland went with their strongest possible XI.
Despite that, it was two of their more senior players that Wright was critical of yesterday, as he told ITV Sport (26/03/22 at 11:30 pm).
“When you see that kind of goal,” said Wright. “You think ‘it feels quite easy for a striker to get in like that’.
“Seamus Coleman doesn’t do enough for the challenge. I think Doherty is ambling back. He has got to get back and make it difficult for him because Seamus is trying to slow him down.
“Then he cuts inside and that’s when Doherty has to come in and challenge him. – you can’t take anything away from the finish.”
Whilst Doherty’s form has picked of late at under Antonio Conte, the Tottenham man, alongside Coleman, haven’t had the best of seasons.
It’s going more wrong for Coleman at Goodison Park because his Everton side are staring relegation in the face.
That was proven when the Toffees were thrashed 5-0 at Tottenham a number of weeks ago, with Doherty being one of the standouts during that game with two assists.
It wasn’t so long ago that he was one that could have been sold by the north London club, but perhaps his end-of-season form is going to save him from being on the transfer list in the summer.
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