Irish football fans loving arguments between Kenny Cunningham and Shay Given

Irish football fans were enjoying RTE’s coverage of Belgium and Ukraine’s 0-0 draw in Euro 2024 as tensions rose between Kenny Cunningham and his fellow panellists Shay Given and Richie Sadlier.

The championships have yet to capture the nation’s attention, not least because the Republic of Ireland failed to qualify but also because of some fairly drab and cagey matches.

Nothing could separate Belgium and Ukraine in Stuttgart, much like nothing could separate all four countries in Group E, who all finished on four points.

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Belgium finished second behind Romania and will play France in the last 16, while Ukraine were cruelly knocked out of the championship on goal difference.

Nevertheless, Cunningham, in the RTE studio, called Belgium’s decision to run down the clock in the closing stages and take a 0-0 draw rather than pushing for three points as ‘borderline embarrassing’.

The former Ireland defender said: “They had no ambition to go and win the game.

“The sight of Kevin De Bruyne and one of his teammates keeping the ball in the corner flag with seconds to go with an opportunity to score a goal, win the game, and top the group, I thought it was borderline embarrassing what I was watching. I couldn’t believe it.”

Cunningham’s opinion was not shared, though, by either Given or Sadlier.

“I don’t think it’s embarrassing at all,” Given argued. “You’re in the fourth minute of injury time. If Belgium lose the game they’re out of the tournament.

“There is nothing embarrassing about. Belgium had 90 minutes to win the game, I agree with you that they weren’t good enough.

“They were poor and under par, but I’ve no qualms about holding the ball for the last 30 seconds at the corner flag in the Ukraine half.”

Cunningham believed that Belgium should have gambled to avoid a last-16 clash with France, but both Given and Sadlier argued that they were susceptible to a Ukraine counterattack that could have knocked them out of the tournament.

Their argument continued from there – one of a number of disagreements between Cunningham and Given that football fans were loving on social media:

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