'We want to stay in League B': Ireland boss Hallgrímsson discounts relegation logic

Hallgrímsson believes it's "really important to stay in League B and play higher ranked opponents."

OPPORTUNITY: The uncapped Rocco Vata and Heimir Hallgrímsson during Ireland training at the Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv. "We have uncapped players and we'd like to see them in action," said the Ireland boss. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Heimir Hallgrímsson has dismissed the theory that Ireland losing their Uefa Nations League playoff against Bulgaria would be inconsequential.

Countries such as Scotland blitzed through League C of the competition’s first series to build momentum and there is a guaranteed playoff place from that section for the Euros reserved.

Yet the Icelander applies the rationale that Ireland benefits in the primary qualification campaigns of World Cup and Euros by regularly facing better teams.

Their last League B series concluded in November with a third placed finish behind England and Greece, while ahead of relegated Finland.

Bulgaria’s runner-up placing to Northern Ireland in League C offers them the opportunity over two legs to swap places with Ireland in the higher echelon.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's first-leg in Plovdiv, Hallgrímsson was clear in his ambition to prevail from a shootout that could go all the way to penalties in Sunday’s return fixture at Lansdowne Road.

“Does it matter?” he mused when asked the question, also relevant whether it afforded scope for experimentation.

“My thoughts are that we need to play good opponents day in and day out to develop as a team.

“That's why League B is important for us. There are differing views on it and I respect that, but I think it's really important to stay in League B and play higher ranked opponents.

“Yes on experimentation. We have uncapped players and we'd like to see them in action.

“We brought them in because we feel they’re ready to play and it's also a time to give players a chance.

“It's not like we aren’t losing or risking anything from this tie.” 

Aside from a 5-0 hammering against Northern Ireland, Bulgaria have been solid performers and the Ireland boss places that Belfast beating into the exceptional bracket.

“The strength of the Bulgarian team is collective.

“They are an honest team, tactically solid and difficult to break down.

“If you look at the recent results, since Ilian Iliev took over, 12 games and one loss and that was a big defeat in Northern Ireland but that was an outlier.

“They conceded five goals but they were without five players, missed a penalty and hit the crossbar.

“It was a day off for them, it's an impressive run of results in the last 10 games, five clean sheets so they are a tough team to break down.

“They have had really good results here in Plovdiv and I understand why they wanted to play here.

“Even though you have technical players in Andrian Kraev and Kiril Despodov, who can break up the game, it's a collective effort.”