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Gary Breen thankful for the end of "embarrassing" fortnight in Irish football

Gary Breen admits he is thankful to see the end of the current international break, labeling&nbsp...



Gary Breen thankful for the en...
Other Sports

Gary Breen thankful for the end of "embarrassing" fortnight in Irish football

Gary Breen admits he is thankful to see the end of the current international break, labeling drama that has surrounded the Irish camp as "embarrassing".

Ireland salvaged what they could from a turbulent two weeks by securing a credible 1-1 draw away to Poland on Tuesday night.

Martin O'Neill's side have been plagued by well-documented fall-outs from within the camp and leaked audio which added further details to the story this week.

Speaking on Wednesday's #OTBAM, the former Ireland international said he was impressed with element's of the performance in WrocÅ‚aw.

"The lads gave a really good account of themselves and that was pleasing," he said.

"They would have seen what was happening throughout - the dramas - and they're thinking 'just give me my chance.'

"As a footballer you're looking at the performance against Wales and the guys on the bench are thinking, 'I can do better than that' and a lot of them did."

Breen denounced all of the noise surrounding the camp in the build-up to the match as "nonsense".

"All this drama is a bit embarrassing when you've got other countries looking on."

Breen also noted that more of the focus has now gone toward how the management team are operating and what they're doing to further the success of Irish football.

"There's a new younger type of pundit who dissect how the team is performing. They don't get involved in all the nonsense of the PR spin the FAI have tried [to put on this]. 

"Even leading into the Wales team, the fact that O'Neill was sitting down and talking to every journalist and trying to integrate himself back with the supporters.

"There are some ex-professionals who see through all that and just want to know what you're doing on the pitch.

"To a certain extent, what's happening off it like the arguments Roy is having with the players. Does it make a difference to what's happening? Yes when you look at the storm it's created but no when you see what's happening on the pitch."

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