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Keith Treacy: Ireland should switch formation for June games

Stephen Kenny should switch to a 4-3-3 formation for the games in the June international window, according to former Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Treacy.

Ireland adopted something close to a 5-4-1 shape in their 1-0 home loss to France, successfully restricting their much-vaunted opposition for much of the game, their hopes ultimately scuppered by a sloppy pass on the edge of the box, presenting a chance to Benjamin Pavard to fire home the match-winner.

While much encouragement has been derived from the manner of the performance, Ireland's habit of stumbling against lower or mid-ranked sides has been an unfortunate motif throughout the Stephen Kenny era.

With games against Greece and Gibraltar looming in June, Treacy, who earned six caps for Ireland in 2010 and 2011, suggests a switch in shape may be in order.

"Against the lesser nations or the ones who are a bit more at our level, I'd go to a 4-3-3," Treacy said on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.

"I'd play Ferguson, Ogbene or maybe Mikey Johnston or Obafemi. But Ferguson is going to be up the middle and you get pace in around him.

"We played Latvia - 134 in the world - and we played a 3-5-2/5-3-2, quite a defensive minded formation.

"When France come, the fans can accept that we're going to be on the back foot, they are a world class team. We're going to play for moments in the game.

"But when Latvia or Gibraltar come, we want to be able to cut them open. We want Will Smallbone on the pitch, we want players on the half-turn, playing between the lines."

Treacy insists that the defensive approach adopted by Ireland in Monday's opener was entirely the correct approach, arguing that it would have been "nonsensical" to play more adventurously against a side of France's calibre.

Keith

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