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<p>Ireland's Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has said his players have moved on from Thursday's disappointment. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho</p>

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'It’s like a car crash, best to drive again': Hallgrímsson retains squad for dead rubber

Only Sammie Szmodics, who must comply with protocols after being knocked out, and Jack Taylor, due to a family illness, were not part of the squad training back in Abbotstown this morning

<p>DEJECTION: A familiar feeling of disappointment for Ireland as they fail to qualify for the World Cup after a penalty shootout loss to Czechia. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho</p>

S soccer

In Prague, we experienced a heartbreaking illustration of who we are

<p>REMAINING POSITIVE: Heimir Hallgrímsson champions his Ireland side and their progress, despite Thursday's heartbreak. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho</p>

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'It's sad to talk about the Euros, but that's our job now' says Hallgrímsson

Shamrock Rovers v Galway United - SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division

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World Cup 2030 campaign - how will Ireland's team look for the next tilt?

Paul Hosford: State must provide the facilities for sporting stars of the future

VMTV Tommy Martin 4.jpg

STommy Martin: We haven't yet reached the limits of Heimirball

LATEST WORLD CUP ARTICLES

Debora Barker consoles Ben Brody during the penalty shoot-out 26/3/2026

Ireland v North Macedonia tickets for sale after Prague penalties end World Cup dream

Tuesday's fixture in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, is now a 'dead rubber' as both sides crashed out of contention for World Cup 2026

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

The Ireland team during the penalty shoot-out 26/3/2026

Record 1.6 million people watched Prague penalty pain

Ireland’s World Cup play-off misery in Prague was the most watched TV programme of the year so far

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Nathan Collins dejected after the match 26/3/2026

Nathan Collins: 'I'm not seeing many positives right now because we’re in the gutter'

Ireland captain Collins said it was heartbreaking to lose the World Cup playoff semi-final to Czechia after his side played so well

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Czechia v Republic of Ireland - FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers Play-off Semi-Final

Ireland player ratings against Czechia: Manning's error as untimely as it was costly

Heartbreak for the Irish, but most can walk away with heads held high

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

The Ireland team dejected after losing to the penalty shootout 26/3/2026

What's next for Ireland after World Cup despair in Prague?

What does 2026 now have in store for Heimir Hallgrímsson's men?

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

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World Cup 2026: which countries have qualified and how did they do it?

No Ireland unfortunately, but we now know 42 of the 48 of the teams that will play next year, but a few prized remaining places remain up for grabs in the final round of play offs

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Troy Parrott dejected after the match 26/3/2026

Troy Parrott: 'Please stick with us at times like this'

Striker says: “It is times like this, where I'm so, so happy, where I come from" after Ireland's World Cup dream ends in heartbreak

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Jimmy Dunne with his mother Sharon after the match 26/3/2026

Prague post-mortem podcast: Ireland's World Cup dream ends in heartbreak

Brendan O'Brien and John Fallon react to shootout pain for the Boys in Green in Prague.

Listen | Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Czechia v Republic of Ireland - FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers Play-off Semi-Final

Czechia v Ireland: Four talking points after heartbreak in Prague

Ireland took a commanding 2-0 lead at the Fortuna Arena, but then the tide began to turn

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Heimir Hallgrímsson applauds fans after the game 26/3/2026

'Just pain, we only feel pain': Heimir Hallgrimsson gutted but vows Ireland will 'start again'

The Iceland native saw his side's campaign end in heartbreak after a penalty shootout loss in Prague.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Morten Hjulmand,Rasmus Hojlund

Playoff Wrap: Danes demolish North Macedonia, Gyokeres nets hat-trick to help Sweden progress

In the other playoff games, Poland came from behind to beat Albania 2-1 and reach the playoff finals, with Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski netting ‌second-half goals to set up a Path B decider away to Sweden on Tuesday

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Finn Azaz dejected after losing to the penalty shootout 26/3/2026

Without doubt, this World Cup play-off is one that got away for Ireland

The biggest show on earth remains half the world away for the Boys in Green after Ireland's heartbreaking defeat in Prague.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Troy Parrott dejected after the match 26/3/2026

S World Cup slips from grasp but Ireland have finally found the finisher they've been waiting for

The history books will say that Troy Parrott’s efforts didn’t get Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side to the United States in the summer of 2026; but, boy, he made it an exciting ride – and turned his career, and Irish expectations, around in the process.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Czechia v Republic of Ireland - FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers Play-off Semi-Final

Czechia v Ireland TV review: nervous pundits and selfies with Ronnie

The Boys in Green saw their campaign come to an end in Prague on Thursday night.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Nathan Collins dejected after the match 26/3/2026

Penalty pain again as Ireland World Cup road ends in Prague

Misses by Finn Azaz and Alan Browne proved costly after the Czechs recovered from 2-0 down.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Italy v Northern Ireland - FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-off Semi-Final

Northern Ireland's World Cup dream shattered by play-off defeat to Italy

Northern Ireland battled superbly against an Italy side under immense pressure to deliver qualification after two consecutive failures to reach a tournament they have won four times, but were undone by second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

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Czechia v Ireland: World Cup road ends in despair after penalty shootout defeat

Czechia came from two down to defeat Ireland on penalties in the World Cup playoff.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

A view of Ireland fans in the Old Town Square ahead of the match 26/3/2026

'We're pretty hopeful': Irish fans predict the Czechia v Ireland result

A win against Czechia would set up a playoff final against Denmark or North Macedonia with a spot in the summer's World Cup finals on the line

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Watch: 'We're in the Czech end, say nothing' - Irish fans on World Cup hopes and ticket hunt

Watch: 'We're in the Czech end, say nothing' - Irish fans on World Cup hopes and ticket hunt

Brendan O'Brien is amongst the thousands of travelling Irish supporters in Prague.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Czechia v Republic of Ireland - FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers Play-off Semi-Final

S Golden times for Irish sport – and the Irish abroad show the best version of ourselves

We’re spoiled, but all that success would add up to a banquet without a main course if the Republic of Ireland men’s senior team wasn’t able to bring something of its own to the table

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

From schoolboy hat-trick to Hungary heroics — how Troy Parrott became Ireland’s clutch striker

S From schoolboy hat-trick to Hungary heroics — how Troy Parrott became Ireland’s clutch striker

From school finals heroics to international drama, coaches and scouts recall the early promise behind Ireland striker’s rise

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

The Heimir Hallgrimsson interview: 'I’ve told them the future of Irish football is in their hands'

S The Heimir Hallgrimsson interview: 'I’ve told them the future of Irish football is in their hands'

Since November's Budapest bedlam, he's been far and away, but Hallgrimsson is locked and loaded now on next month's World Cup playoffs. In a rare one-on-one interview, he sat down with Irish Examiner football correspondent John Fallon.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Northern Ireland Press Conference

Italy and Northern Ireland target return to international football’s top table

Gli Azzurri start favourites in the World Cup playoff on Thursday but Michael O’Neill says his young team will show no fear.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

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The team have led a nomadic existence since Russia invaded and face a playoff against Sweden in Valencia on Thursday.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

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Ireland's playoff record worse than England's shootout woes

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Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

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