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Jason Knight has admitted the Republic of Ireland\u2019s new generation must develop a ruthless streak if they are to fulfil their potential.<\/p>\n
A difficult Euro 2024 Group B campaign drew to its seemingly inevitable conclusion on Saturday evening when a 1-0 defeat by the Netherlands in Amsterdam sent the Dutch through to next summer\u2019s finals in Germany and Ireland home to lick their wounds.<\/p>\n
Stephen Kenny\u2019s men knew in advance of the game at the Johan Cruyff Arena that even the safety net of a play-off place via the Nations League had evaporated, and they were left to reflect upon home and away defeats by France, the Netherlands and Greece and a return of just six points at Gibraltar\u2019s expense to show for their efforts.<\/p>\n
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Asked what lessons they had learned, Bristol City midfielder Knight said: \u201cIt\u2019s fresh, but playing against Holland and France is about having a clinical edge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s been a large part of all the games we\u2019ve been equal in: they\u2019ve taken their chances and we haven\u2019t. We defended well in large of parts of all the games. Looking back briefly off the top of my head, we lacked a bit of creative spark and those goals when we needed to capitalise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe confidence is good. We\u2019re playing some good attractive football at times. We\u2019ve fallen on the wrong side of results against good teams. France and Netherlands aren\u2019t minnows of world football.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s confidence within the group and definitely confidence we\u2019ll turn it around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Knight, 22, is one of the flag-bearers for Kenny\u2019s drastically overhauled squad which has seen the manager promote from the Under-21 ranks and promote a front-foot approach.<\/p>\n
His efforts have met with limited success \u2013 Ireland have won just six of the 29 competitive games they have played under his charge, and that bottom line is perhaps the most potent weapon in the armoury of those calling for change.<\/p>\n
Kenny is out of contract after Tuesday night\u2019s friendly against New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium and his future will be decided at a meeting of the Football Association of Ireland\u2019s board on November 28 when members consider a review of the campaign.<\/p>\n
Whatever the outside noise, the 52-year-old\u2019s his players remain steadfastly behind him and Knight reiterated that message when asked about the future.<\/p>\n
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He said: \u201cWell, my view is that the manager is still here and we\u2019re treating it as so. The manager has been great to me and the players. We want to be winning more games for him, but we\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Defeat in Amsterdam came courtesy of Wout Weghorst\u2019s 12th-minute strike, although the game was not as close as the scoreline suggested and but for some less than effective finishing and the efforts of Republic keeper Gavin Bazunu, Ronald Koeman\u2019s men could have had qualification tied up long before the final whistle.<\/p>\n
Knight said: \u201cWe wanted a good performance and result, which ultimately we didn\u2019t do. There were good parts to it. We just lacked a bit of creativity and cutting edge up top.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt they\u2019re a good team, but we can certainly be better in all aspects of our game, especially creating and scoring goals.\u201d<\/p>\n