Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson is hoping the Boys in Green can secure World Cup qualification despite the odds being stacked against his team
Heimir Hallgrimsson(Image: ©INPHO/Ciaran Culligan)
Heimir Hallgrimsson admits he is still learning on the job as Ireland manager, but denies being ‘confused’ by the role.When the Icelander was appointed, he stressed the need for consistency of team selection and felt picking similar starting teams would stand to Ireland.But as the games have ticked by, he has turned into a tinker man and looks unsure of his best XI.Ireland’s push for World Cup qualification is going down to the final window of the six-game campaign. But the Boys in Green are up against it as they prepare to host Portugal and travel to Hungary on the final day.Hungary’s late equaliser in Lisbon last weekend sees them a point ahead of Ireland and if they win in Armenia next month and Ireland lose to Portugal, then it’s over.Hallgrimsson said: “I think we’re all learning, me and you are learning something every day. So yes, I am learning. Am I confused? No.We have players that in their team are maybe not consistent performers, and it shows a little bit here as well.“We also have players that are not playing regularly in their clubs in the Championship. So it’s a lot of things why we have had this inconsistency.“We lost the game in Portugal, but the fans were happy with the performance. Why? Because the players represented everything that Irish fans want.“Hard-working, dedication, organisation, they threw themselves for blocking shots. This is what the fans would like us to be.”But having scored just eight goals in 11 games, how can Ireland be expected to pull off results they need against Portugal and Hungary.Hallgrimsson makes no apologies adopting a ‘caution first’ approach and added: “We need to play games and keep a clean sheet.
“We’re not scoring six goals in a game, we cannot expect to win 4-3 or 3-2. The solution is trying to limit the goals against and preferably not to concede.“That’s the solution at the moment. We don’t always need a goal to make something happen – we need to be a leader in that way but also other ways.“A tackle can ignite something else, and can lift another player. We need these positive signals all over the pitch.”