Eoin Harrington reporting from Ireland camp at FAI HQ
Ireland head coach Heimir HallgrÃmsson admitted on Thursday that he feels “hurt” by the fallout from last month’s World Cup qualifying defeat to Armenia.
HallgrÃmsson named his squad for this month’s double-header against Portugal and Armenia on Thursday morning, with a whole host of changes to the group that faced Armenia and Hungary last month.
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Séamus Coleman, Troy Parrott, Callum O’Dowda, Will Smallbone, Festy Ebosele, and Jayson Molumby all return to the squad, while John Egan receives his first call-up in two years.
However, the main topic of conversation was the fall-out from last month’s acrimonious loss to Armenia in Yerevan.
After all the hope sparked by the late draw against Hungary, Armenia slashed Ireland’s hopes of reaching next summer’s World Cup just three days later.
Those hopes appear to be in tatters, and the reaction has been strong from Ireland fans and media outlets alike.
“I’m okay,” HallgrÃmsson laughed when asked how he has dealt with a difficult few weeks.
“This is the life, sometimes it’s positive, sometimes it’s negative. You’ve just got to adapt to whatever mood there is and keep on your job.
“The thing is that we’ve a project in our hands, we were feeling really good with it until Armenia. Should we make one game affect what we are doing and how we are working? Absolutely not, we continue to have belief in the squad and in our work.”
The scale of criticism received by HallgrÃmsson and the Ireland squad has been significant, with calls from some for him to be removed from his role.
The Icelandic coach admitted he had been hurting in the weeks since Yerevan.
Obviously [the criticism] disappoints [me], it hurts. That’s normal.
Could I have anticipated that? I don’t know. You know the media here better than me. But, definitely, it hurts.
However, he was determined in his belief that Ireland can still reach next summer’s World Cup – and that he retains the full faith of the FAI board.,
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Heimir HallgrÃmsson has no regrets over taking Ireland job
Heimir HallgrÃmsson resolutely said he had no regrets over taking the Ireland job last summer, and stated his belief that the FAI board retain full faith in his position.
HallgrÃmsson was also steadfast in saying he believes this squad can still reach next summer’s World Cup, even after the catastrophe in Yerevan.
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That catastrophe was not played down by HallgrÃmsson, but he did admit he was frustrated at how quickly the game had turned on its head after a strong start by Ireland that he felt could have been rewarded with a goal or a penalty. That it wasn’t was a major reason for his and the Irish fans’ frustration.
Only two of the players who featured in that defeat (Killian Phillips and the injured Jason Knight) are missing from the squad this time around, and HallgrÃmsson said that he wanted the players to prove themselves after such an empty performance.
“Absolutely not,” HallgrÃmsson said when asked if he regretted the big talk that preceded the Hungary-Armenia double-header.
“I’ve said it before, I believe in this squad. I believe this squad has enough quality to qualify. I have had squads with less individual quality than this one qualifying for World Cups and Euros as well.
“I don’t regret saying it because that is what I felt and I always try to be honest in what I am saying.
I can understand the people, if they’re fed up with having expectations and not succeeding in them. But it’s far from being over. We need good performances in this camp.
Even three points will keep us alive until November. It can go down to goal difference, the second place. It’s not over, so nobody should be disappointed at this stage.
It may be hard to persuade Ireland fans to keep the faith after such an abject showing in the previous window, but Heimir HallgrÃmsson is not backing down.
HallgrÃmsson confirmed that Matt Doherty (wrist fracture) and Jason Knight (groin) will be out for four to five weeks, putting their involvement in next month’s camp in doubt. Bosun Lawal is in the same boat, having torn his hamstring last weekend.
Troy Parrott, meanwhile, is in the squad as a “24th” player, with HallgrÃmsson saying he will almost certainly not be involved against Portugal but could feature against Armenia should he prove his fitness.
The Boys in Green face Portugal in Faro next Saturday (October 11th), before Armenia come to the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, October 14th.
Three points is the absolute bare minimum for Ireland from this window, and even that may not be enough to keep hopes alive should Hungary spring a surprise in their away game against Portugal.
Mountains are there to be climbed, but this one seems exceedingly steep for HallgrÃmsson’s team.
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