Heimir Hallgrímsson believes an advantage may lie with his team ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Hungary, as Ireland know they have to win, whereas a draw will be enough for the Magyars.
Thursday’s superb 2-0 win over Portugal means Ireland has taken this World Cup qualifying campaign to the final day, something that has not happened since the Euro 2020 qualifiers, when they also needed a win against Denmark in the last game, but could only muster a 1-1 draw.
‘Sometimes, I think it is just better to go and need a win, rather than a draw being enough,’ the Ireland boss said. ‘You probably become passive when that happens. We are going there, knowing that we need to win. It is a Cup final, but we know we have to win it.’
Heimir Hallgrimsson at an Ireland training session in Budapest, Hungary. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Troy Parrott was taken off midway through the second half after his first-half brace, a sign that Hallgrímsson was keen to keep the in-form striker fresh for Budapest. Evan Ferguson is back training with Roma this week, but an injury crisis among their forwards means the Serie A club is unlikely to release him for this game.
The Ireland manager agreed that his team’s marvellous win over Portugal has put all the pressure back on Hungary ahead of this final game, as they have always been one step ahead of Ireland in the group but there is now a chance to overtake them on the final day.
‘They have been leading all the way through. Like we talked about when we started this campaign that we wanted to have at least four points after the first camp and be leading from there. But we’ve always been chasing and now we can overtake them on the last day of the campaign.’
Troy Parrott during an Ireland training session in Budapest, Hungary. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
For many of the Irish players, who have suffered a lot of defeats in a green shirt, Thursday was the best night of their international career. But Hallgrímsson was keen that, by the time they boarded the flight to Budapest yesterday, they had come back down to earth as another huge challenge awaits.
‘We spoke about it after. It’s okay to be happy, but remember why we achieved this, what made this win. It was collective work, it was teamwork, it was hard work and discipline. Focus and discipline, that created this.
‘So, just don’t enjoy winning and have three points, remember what made this win, that’s the most important thing going to Hungary. And, yes, it’s a time to enjoy, even though you thought there was no joy after the Armenia win here at home.
Heimir Hallgrimsson. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
‘There’s a joy, we should enjoy every win we get. It doesn’t come every day. So this was a good win, but it was only three points like the Armenia game.’
Hallgrímsson feels that Armenia butchering a glorious chance to score an equaliser against Hungary in Yerevan only serves as a reminder of how wafer-thin the margins are in international football.
‘The last-minute chance Armenia had, that was crazy. ‘It was painful to see them miss that in the last minute. But I’m just saying this is the margins at this level. They don’t concede in the last minute in that game, and they score against Portugal in the last minute.
‘That’s what the difference is, that’s why we need a win. A draw is not enough. We always wanted to go to the last game and have a chance, and we have it now.’