'Evan's a big lad, a young, confident boy,' said Szmodics. 'He shouldn't think about that penalty miss - I've missed two penalties this season.'
IRELAND new boy Sammie Szmodics has told Evan Ferguson to forget about his penalty miss against Belgium.
"I knew Evan would take it. Evan's a young lad, my debut, it would have been quite cheeky for me to take the ball. Szmodics has been ripping it up for Blackburn Rovers this season - he has 21 Championship goals to his name already - and had an international debut to remember as he attacked down the left flank.
"I’ve been ready for this for three or four years since I got my passport and to finally do it is unbelievable, but also a big relief for me because it was one of the biggest days of my career."I had to go home in the past because I was injured and other things have happened and you read stuff in the press that I don’t want to play for Ireland which is ridiculous because I was desperate to.
He was familiar with John O'Shea's team formation - Blackburn have played it in the past with Szmodics in the false nine position. Last night it was Ferguson in the role.
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