Heimir Hallgrímsson is refusing to give up on Ireland’s World Cup dream.
Heimir Hallgrímsson(Image: INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
Despite it all, optimism prevails.
Heimir Hallgrímsson says he is still working to the presumption that his contract will run until the middle of next year and that making the World Cup is still in Ireland’s hands.
One can only be true if the other is realised. Hallgrímsson’s deal runs to the end of Ireland’s interest in the expanded 2026 tournament.
In Hallgrímsson’s eyes, the idea that this will come in nine days’ time in Budapest is for the more pessimistic among us.
He includes “the media” in that and adds that “the fans are really optimistic and show that they’re supportive.”
However, the shadow of a damaging September window still hangs over this side, no matter how uplifting their October performances were.
The defeat in Yerevan, in particular, led even Hallgrímsson to struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel, although he soon rebounded.
One point from two games when all the talk in the build up was of collecting six meant Ireland were playing catch-up.
“We have it in our hands,” Hallgrímsson insisted yesterday, as he named his squad for the final two qualifiers. “Two wins and we are there [into the play-offs].”
Even so, he had to acknowledge that it would not be easy against two teams – at home to Portugal and away to Hungary – ranked above his side.
Yet when it comes to his future, he says: “My focus is I’m going to stay here until June, at least June or July. That’s my focus. I’m not letting anything else distract that because then I’m not doing my job.
“I’m optimistic but I’m also a realist. So, yeah, I’ll do the best I can and then the future will tell what will happen. But my focus is I’m going to stay here until the end of June.”
Even if we don’t qualify?
“No,” he replies, “that’s my focus. We are going to qualify.”
The route to the play-offs will become clearer in the hours leading up to kick-off against Portugal next Thursday, as Hungary will play in Armenia earlier that day.
“We need to have calculated risks [against Portugal], knowing what we need” he says. “So we need to take calculated risks.
“We cannot play an open game against Portugal. Their biggest strength is transition. They’re so quick and skilful, using spaces in behind us. Or against every team.
“So we’ll always have the same approach. And then as the game goes on, we know what we need.
“And according to the game we’ll be playing, we’ll take calculated risks. Whether it will be in set pieces, whether it will be in-game, in possession, personnel, etcetera.”
The optimism has extended to his squad selection, with the inclusion of Evan Ferguson coming despite a prognosis of an injury absence that potentially stretches beyond these games.
Kevin O’Toole has been drafted into the squad to cover a problem area – the left side of defence – and he is someone that Hallgrímsson is familiar with from his previous job.
“I had a Jamaican, Tayvon Gray, playing right back for New York City. So I watched a lot of their games,” he says.
“I realised when I came here that this player was Irish. Since the name came up and he was applying for a passport and things, I started looking at him.
“He’s a good option. He’s a good option for us. Especially he gives us depth.”
Better than Lecce’s Corrie Ndaba? Anselmo Garcia MacNulty or Will Ferry?
“Actually, I was watching McNulty losing 8-2 last game [for PEC Zwolle against Hercules]. It was not the best time to watch him. He’s more of a centre-back, McNulty.
“[Ndaba] is young. The future might be his. We’ll see where he goes.
“Will Ferry, we checked him. I guess he needs a little more time with us. We opted to go for Kevin at this stage. Just for the future as well. We need to have more depth in this position.”
Hallgrímsson was this week linked with interest from Indonesia. Football authorities there are ready to move should his time as Ireland boss come to an end this month.
Again, he points to his belief that he’s here for a longer haul, saying: “Like I said, I plan to stay here until June, nothing else matters.”
One more blast of optimism from yesterday’s press conference – and a great way of spinning a negative into a positive.
“Many of our players are struggling at the moment not playing well for the clubs, even fighting for minutes,” he points out.
“It’s a different situation from September when we had everyone playing and scoring, man-of-the-match performances.
“Let’s hope it’s just the reverse. We had players coming in high in September and we didn’t play well. Hopefully now it’s going to be the reverse – that they are struggling at the clubs but they will play well for Ireland.
“That’s our hope.”