Séamus Coleman: 'There have been too many tournaments that have passed us now'
RETURNING TO SLIGO: Séamus Coleman will be part of the Everton squad which will face Sligo in a sold out Showgrounds on Friday in a pre-season friendly. Picture: Everton FC
Purists can prepare themselves to be peeved because Séamus Coleman has backed the new Ireland manager’s back-to-basics principles.
The captain liked what he heard from Heimir Hallgrimsson during their introductory chat last week, especially while lamenting another tournament absence.
Coleman observed the Euros from home bristling at the clock ticking towards a decade of Ireland being bystanders.
World Cup 2026 across the Atlantic is the target for the Everton captain. At 37 then, what a fitting swansong that would be.
If Ireland couldn’t inhabit the 24 nations at the Euros, squeezing into 16 for the global spectacular will be a stretch.
How they fare in the upcoming Uefa Nations League campaign will influence their seeding for the World Cup draw in December and Coleman doesn’t care what methodology applies to succeed.
Stephen Kenny’s mission to metamorphose Ireland into Spain by passing from the goalkeeper through the thirds spectacularly backfired, his reign culled after the worst record for an Ireland manager in 50 years.
His successor Hallgrimsson is chiselled from a different sculpture, traversing the international circuit long enough to focus on optimising what tools are available.
“We're all glad that we've finally got a manager, whichever way it's come about,” Coleman said about Hallgrimsson’s appointment, ending an eight-month search that covered a couple of interim spells for John O’Shea.
“From speaking to him, he wants to understand the culture; that Irishness in us all.
“We've to support him and I know that's what the Irish people do because another major tournament has gone past where we've all been watching from our sitting rooms, pubs or wherever.
“There have been too many tournaments that have passed us now. There is talk of styles of play and development, and I get all that for the future of Irish football, but the here and now is that you want to be at these tournaments, however way that is.
“If that's playing out from the back or kicking it long, the nation needs to be at these tournaments. And we need to find a way of getting there."
Coleman cited the pragmatism executed at the Euros by England, the side of his teammate Jordan Pickford, as a template for adapting to strengths.
“Ultimately to progress long-term, you want a style of play but, selfishly as a player, the goal is qualifying for tournaments,” he noted.
“You don’t want to be turning your back on attractive football but you’ve got to weigh it up. We won games in the past not playing very well.
“England didn’t play lovely, attractive football but still reached the final. Maybe it only got them so far but we must get the balance right between playing attractive football and playing to win. For me, that’s where we need to get to.”
He’s been there just once, as Martin O’Neill’s first-choice right-back at Euro in 2016. From the World Cup playoff Ireland lost to Denmark 17 months later, it’s been a slog.
Mick McCarthy’s sole campaign in his second stint saw Ireland come within a goal of usurping the Danes for a Euros slot but the competitive aspect drifted under Kenny.
“I had it in 2016 and other lads had it before me in 2012,” he said of Ireland reaching successive Euros. “Maybe we did take it for granted.”
Only Coleman, along with Robbie Brady and Shane Duffy, have tournament experience within the current squad.
The generation blooded in recent years, asserts the skipper, must strive to create lifelong memories for themselves and the wider population.
“I’m convinced we’ve a lot of quality in the squad to qualify but time and experience definitely helps that,” he cautions.
“Lads likes Nathan Collins, Gavin Bazunu and Dara O’Shea are in around the 20 mark for caps now. As those grow, they have more of an understanding about wanting to get to tournaments.
“It’s for the people in the small towns across Ireland. You want to see them filling the pubs and their houses, sitting with Ireland flags outside their doors.
“I think we’re good enough but we've got a bit to go. That’s where this manager comes in.”
September 7 is the start date for the new era, a day when England come to town wounded by another final defeat. Coleman will be there to lead the team out, declining to countenance leaving the international scene behind him.
If Portugal’s Pepe can still muzzle strikers at 41, clean-living Coleman is capable of maintaining longevity.
“I don’t know if you can compare the likes of me and Pepe,” he said when asked about taking inspiration. “There was one clip from the Euros where someone passed him and it looked like they did him completely down the side.
“The commentators would be the first to say his legs were gone but he kept battling, got back in position and knocked it out for a corner and celebrated.
“I've been there in a way and can understand the feeling he had. Players are fitter now and lasting longer.
“Please God, the likes of Festy (Ebosele) and others can kick on and I’ll happily move aside from Ireland when the time is right.
“I still feel good enough against some of the best wingers in the game. I’ve signed for another season at Everton and let’s see where that takes me.”
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