Hallgrìmsson: 'We want to win the game and continue to develop'

BUILDING COHESION:Heimir Hallgrímsson is of the belief that with the passing of time – this is his eight game at the helm – coherence will strengthen their backbone. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

After ridding some of the heaviness weighing down their shirts, Ireland cannot afford to botch the easier lifting.

Bulgaria, 82nd in the world at home, is the type of fixture which seemed to suffocate the team in recent years but, with a fully-available squad, there’ll be no excuses for failing to retain their League B status.

Thursday’s 2-1 win in Plovdiv affords scope for Ireland to even draw to accomplish their mission but players, fans and the FAI bank balance, could all do with something meatier as a bridge to the summer and beyond.

Two friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg in June form a gateway to the ultimate test of the year – the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

By tonight, hopefully without the need for a penalty shootout, not alone will Ireland know which tier of Nations League they’ll participate in next year but whether it’s Denmark or Portugal completing the World Cup group.

Hungary and Armenia emerged from the December draw and Denmark have taken a 1-0 lead, a buffer Cristiano Ronaldo and Co will fancy overturning in Lisbon.

All Ireland can concentrate on in the meantime is solidifying their own elements. The trio of Finn Azaz, Mikey Johnston and Troy Parrott offered glimpses of a new attacking dimension but the priority is to eradicate the blemishes at the other end which contributed to Bulgaria pinching an early lead.

Something similar tonight would alter the complexion of the tie and seep any feelgood factor from the away trip.

Heimir Hallgrímsson is of the belief that with the passing of time – this is his eight game at the helm – coherence will strengthen their backbone.

Albeit he highlighted the yellow card amnesty playing into the visitors’ hands, their desperation to rescue the tie should suit the armoury of Ireland to punish gaps.

“I feel players believe in what they are doing - the structure and principles,” said the Icelander.

“We show players a lot of clips from the last game, animations and stuff.

“They are doing the exact same on the pitch, and when that comes, a group becomes a team and there is an action and there is always a reaction to that one is look not like this happens now and something else happens next.

“There is always a reaction to one action and that is when you have a good structure and confidence.

“They believe in their teammate, thinking I’m going to do this. Then a group becomes a team.” 

Slugging to a scoreless draw isn’t the preferred method of success.

“We know that a draw will get us through this two-leg encounter, but we want to win the game and continue to develop,” added Hallgrímsson.

“We want to go at Bulgaria at home, showing character and positivity by being on the front foot.

“That was the game plan we had away – yes, it changed a little bit in the second half – but we will continue with being positive and trying to win the game, for sure.

“We are not going there to keep the game 0-0. We want to score.

“Bulgaria is the kind of opponent where we can go high on the pitch.

“I think they will come higher, trying to press us higher, probably man-marking, in our build-up etc so there will be other spaces that open up.” 

Uefa Nations League playoff second leg: Ireland (2) v Bulgaria (1), Lansdowne Road, 7.45pm.