Coleman encouraged despite not so happy birthday

Seamus Coleman's 37th birthday wasn't his happiest but the Republic of Ireland veteran was encouraged by his side's performance in their heart-breaking World Cup qualifying defeat to Portugal.

A determined defensive display had Ireland on course for an unlikely point before Ruben Neves headed the 91st-minute winner in Lisbon.

"Very disappointing to concede," the Donegal man told RTÉ Sport. "They have a lot of quality.

"I think the performance was good. We resembled for large periods of the game what I think an Irish side should be: stick together, work hard for each other, play for the fans, togetherness.

"Sometimes, against a good team, the pressure can be off and you've got nothing to lose. But I do think the lads played really well and there was a calmness and a control to our play at times.

"But ultimately, Tuesday night against Armenia [Live on RTÉ2/Player] is where we've got to show it and, you know, there's no hiding behind anything [now]. It's a tough one to take. We have to take it, and we must win Tuesday night.

"As we know, that's not a given, but we have to be prepared for it."

The long-time Ireland captain was making his first international appearance in over a year, having suffered a succession of injuries last season, and was substituted shortly before the goal after playing 86 minutes on the right side of a five-man defence.

"Body felt fine," he said. "Obviously tired towards the end, but I felt good enough to continue and let's hope I've got a part to play on Tuesday as well.

"I've been brought up a way of playing football, giving your best for your teammates and training your best every single day. That's what I do and that's what I expect from people around me.

"I like to think I was brought in for more than that as I started the game tonight as well. And I felt good out there. But great to be back.

"I do think when I'm training and fit, I'm one of the best 23 to be called up, and I think I can give something to the team always, whether that's starting or on the training ground.

"Delighted to be back because ultimately this is my country. It's an honour to play for Ireland, and I never take it for granted. I'd like to think I showed my authority this week in training and just a shame that we didn't get a point out of this game."

Coleman's one-time manager at Everton Roberto Martinez was in the hotseat for Portugal and admitted he would have preferred not to face his former player.

"I did congratulate Seamus [on his birthday]," said Martinez. "It is a joy to see him. He was probably the best right-back in the Premier League in 2013 when we finished fifth with Everton. He's an example.

"I wasn't delighted to see him in the line up, I must admit. He's somebody that I don't want to see in the opposing team, but I think he gave us an example again.

"It's been a difficult season for him in terms of minutes and he coped with the intensity, he coped with his intelligence and his experience. Extremely proud of him and his performance."

Martinez thought his side merited their victory, having monopolised possession (63%) and taken 21 shots to Ireland's two, despite needing Neves' very late intervention to seal the points after Caoimhín Kelleher had saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo (below).

"It is always difficult to win or to lose a game in the last minute, but I thought overall we deserved it in what It was a very committed and a very good performance from Ireland, from the defensive point of view," he told RTÉ Sport.

"We knew that the level that they showed against Armenia wasn't the real Ireland. So we knew that a reaction was coming and it's a perfect place. You come here, you get in good organisation and then you hit the opposition on the counter. It's very dangerous then from our point of view…

"From our point of view, it's difficult when a team gets so well organised and 11 players in front of the goal.

"But the opportunities on the counter attack, the pace that the wide players had and the deadball situations, I was delighted with the way we managed.

"We stopped the lines of Ireland. They had some little bits of possession but they didn't hurt us, they didn't achieve any corners.

"It's difficult and it takes a little bit of magic. But today, the goalkeeper Kelleher was outstanding, even to save the penalty. He kept his team [in it] until the last second."

Portugal will seal their spot at the World Cup if they beat Hungary on Tuesday and Armenia don't win in Dublin.

"I think if you keep playing that way, you will build a team that has got everything to win games," said Martinez.

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