THE LOI POD: Pico proudly representing the LOI | Euro trips galore | What is going on at Derry City?
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We targeted getting off to a better start than we did against Mayo. We were very disappointed with our first half performance against Mayo.
I think we definitely brought a lot of the learnings from that game out there today, particularly the way we defended. The yellow iPod on Off the Ball. Catch live and exclusive national radio commentary of the Men's League of Ireland Premier Division on Off the Ball all season. Welcome back to another episode of the League of Ireland pod. I'm Ben Symes filling in this week for Stephen Doyle. A pretty busy week I think it's fair to say we've had. We've had World Cup stars in action. We've had European draws to take place for next season and we've also had a small matter of a couple of rounds of LOI fixtures as well. Stephen might be here and I might be standing in front of him but I'm delighted to say I'm joined by the other two regulars of the League of Ireland pod.
Vinnie Perth, Gareth McGlynn. How you doing lads?
Alright Ben, what's up Greg?
All good, all good. I think it's only right that we start with the biggest news of the week. Shamrock Rovers captain Pico Lopez gone from Tala to Atlanta and he keeps Spain at bay, a 0-0 draw for Cape Verde. Vinnie, I'll start with you on this. Were you surprised maybe that some of the heroic defending that he put on display or is this just run-of-the-mill Pico that we see every week in the League of Ireland?
I don't know. I mean, he was operating at such a high level. I was lucky enough. I was working on the game for a TV station. So it was really different and interesting to watch it that way. So for South African TV, believe it or not, Ben. But there you go.
Gone international, Vinnie.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Gone. Gone. I'm too big time now. But you know what? It was brilliant. I think Pico summed it up so well. He said he felt like he was representing two countries. I felt really proud of his performance. It was like an Irishman obviously wearing a different crest. I felt a real sense of pride in the league in terms of what he did. they had to hang on at different stages, particularly at the end. Everything Spain done was in front of them. But then when called upon last five, ten minutes, myself and the other centre-half were heroic and obviously the goalkeeper as well. But there was parts of Richard Dunne against Russia, wasn't there, and some of the blocks, particularly the big one at the end.
So, Hugely proud and delighted for him. He's one of the good guys in Irish football and hopefully he gets rewarded over the next few years on the back of what he's done. So absolutely delighted for him and a real sense of pride.
Gareth, this is something that we've never seen before, a current League of Ireland player playing at the World Cup. I was down at Pryor Market in Tala and there was loads of Rovers fans down to the chair mall along the way. It is a pretty big moment for the league in general. I know we've Joey and I to come up as well for Ghana, we'll see or not if he plays. But no matter what happens for the rest of the tournament, Pico has put in a monumental performance already.
Yeah, unbelievable. And then, I mean, Keith Vardy to get a point against Spain, I mean, it has to be one of the best points in World Cup history, considering the levels of them. But, I mean, his performance in the heart of the defence, obviously the keeper got a lot of plot on seven saves. He was immense as well. But outside of him, Pico was a standout player. I mean, we're not being biased just because he plays in the League of Ireland. I think everyone's saying the same thing. But seeing a League of Ireland player, it has to give... It has to give current League of Ireland players, even the young players in the league, a bit of hope that maybe not Ireland, but if they have any other kind of allegiances, that's the levels that you can get to.
All off the back of a LinkedIn message. It's incredible stuff. And then he was rewarded at the end by throwing himself and it hit his head. Not knowing much about it, but that was the winner right there.
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