Republic of Ireland and Luxembourg trade verbal blows after 'caveman' claim | OneFootball

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny was happy to hit back at Luxembourg manager Luc Holtz after last night's World Cup qualifying win.

Kenny had been unhappy with Holtz's description of his team's style of play as “British" and the same as they had adopted for the “last 100 years".

And after goals from Shane Duffy, Chiedozie Ogbene and Callum Robinson secured his side victory, Kenny said: “We were disappointed he denigrated all the great players who played for Ireland.

“Denis Irwin was in with us a couple of weeks ago. Roy Keane, John Giles, Liam Brady, Mick McCarthy, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff.

“It is wrong to say they just fight for second balls and played caveman football for a hundred years. It's wrong to suggest that. We thought he denigrated a lot of players and that was unacceptable.

“The players themselves know, they hear it themselves. We did speak about it. It is unnecessary, but it's part of life. We have moved on already."

Home boss Holtz accused Kenny's staff of unsporting behaviour after the final whistle, saying they had “played the big guys" in stark contrast to the aftermath of Luxembourg's 1-0 win in Dublin in March.

He said: “I'm very disappointed about the behaviour of the staff of Ireland. This evening, they came and played the big guys because they won. In Ireland where we won, they immediately disappeared to the dressing rooms.

“We didn't go to them and make them ridiculous, but they tried to do that this evening after the match. That's not very fair play and very disappointing. We are not used to that from British (sic) teams."