Ireland can't be ball-watchers or Greece lightning will strike again

The Ireland manager's admission of the perils attached to the three central-defenders offers clues of a change looming.

Giorgos Masouras of Greece celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match against Ireland. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Heimir Hallgrímsson has been occasionally requested to pronounce his name in full since being appointed Ireland manager and this is the first time he’ll really need to find his voice.

It appears the only person immune to the outrage over his peripheral involvement during this debut window is himself, for the man he beat to the vacancy even visibly baulked at the suggestion of distortion yesterday.