Finn Azaz making up for lost time with club and country

The Boro man will hope to retain his place in the starting XI on Sunday night in Greece.

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024 - 23:00

John Fallon

Finn Azaz isn't bothered that his international career was a slow burner after his club circuit followed similar lines.

He was on the periphery at both West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa before his step back to Plymouth Argyle supplied scope to soar.

From League One to the Championship, signing for Middlesbrough, was a leap.

The same can be said for his Ireland evolution; his third cap in the space of six months coming as a starter in Thursday’s win in Finland.

Ireland’s search for a link between midfield and attack has been arduous, metaphorising candidates from other positions but Azaz felt at home there as Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side came from behind to prevail.

“The manager isn’t treating me as a young player anymore,” he noted about the paradox between his international ascension and age, “I am 24 now so I need to take responsibility. He said he's seen me play at my club and in my position, albeit it's a different team and philosophy.”

London-born Azaz – who declared for Ireland through his Cork family that included double All-Ireland winner Brian Murphy – received news of his promotion from the Icelander in advance. He’d only featured once for the U21s and twice during John O’Shea’s caretaker stint earlier in the year.

“I got told the day before the game,” he explained about being parachuted straight into the team after being excluded from Hallgrimsson’s first double-header in September.

“He told me to show leadership and responsibility, in terms of helping us be more creative, and on a personal front I was just buzzing to start.

“My role was to try and help us create chances; get on the ball, use my movement and my passing.

"He's put trust in me as a player, putting me in positions. Then it's up to me to do the job for him.”

Those effective 70 minutes in Helsinki should retain his place for the meeting with table-toppers Greece in Piraeus on Sunday night. The Greeks are on a high after snaffling a late win at Wembley to send the four-team pool into a state of flux by the midway point.

“We can go there and not feel like an underdog,” Azaz declared about the team Ireland lost three times in a row against over the past 16 months.

“We have real belief – and should have real belief. I want to be part of it and this has been part of my motivation at club level. There's high standards here and we’ve to perform well to stay in this team. That drives a winning mentality.”