'I plan for success': Hallgrímsson upbeat on Ireland's World Cup qualification chances
“I really think we have a good chance if we stick together, believe and we work as one," said Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson about his side's World Cup qualification chances. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
During his circuit of Ireland expedition, including a trip to Cork this week, Heimir Hallgrímsson will grasp the gravity of tournament qualification to the country.
World Cup 2026 marks a decade since the last appearance at a major finals and the Icelander is the man tasked with guiding Ireland to the showpiece in USA, Mexico and Canada.
Even with the expansion to 48 teams increasing the European qualifiers to 16, Ireland must finish in the top two of a pool containing Portugal, Hungary and Armenia to avoid elimination in the group stage.
The FAI’s long wait to headhunt Hallgrímsson was justified on the basis of his track record for disrupting the recognised order.
Iceland finished ahead of Netherlands and Turkey to reach Euro 2016. Croatia and Ukraine were left trailing the underdogs on their way to the 2018 World Cup.
Hallgrímsson risked being ridiculed rather than being respected when he began yesterday’s squad announcement for the June friendlies by mapping out his calendar culminating in the Land of Opportunity next summer.
“We are giving our Championship players this summer off because they will have no holiday next year,” asserted the 57-year-old about excluding the likes of Josh Cullen, Mikey Johnston and Finn Azaz.
“We expect to go straight from the club season into the World Cup.”
Hallgrímsson’s infectiousness can be felt in the various corners of the nation he’s visited. From the north-west to the south-east, he’s acquainted himself with the landscape, factions and all.
Leeside, to visit both Cork City and Cobh Ramblers, along with grassroots clubs, is next on his itinerary.
“I try to stay for three days in different locations to look at training and understand the culture,” he explained.
“Going down to the southern capital, I want to learn a bit about the people.
“At the same time, I think it's respect. If I have time, I should invest it in doing this. That was one of the reasons I tried to stay as much as I could here in Ireland.
“Coming from Iceland, it’s not really a different environment. There are kings everywhere - king of the grass pitch and then the king of the facilities. It's volunteer work that drives these clubs.”
Hallgrímsson would attain regal status himself in Ireland by ending a 24-year World Cup drought.
So far, so mixed for the latest keeper of the flame. Eight games, four wins and four defeats.
Results in the upcoming double header friendly, at home to Senegal on June 6 and away to Luxembourg four days later, could vary too but the ultimate tests lurk in the Autumn.
Hallgrímsson’s contract duration is linked to that cycle which could run into playoffs next March should they secure the runners-up spot over the 10-week sprint.
He believes a combination of elements – particularly the signs shown in the back-to-back wins over Bulgaria in March – should convince his players to share his optimism.
“I plan for success,” he said, outlining his mindset.
“If you do that, you shouldn't talk differently. I hope I'm not offending anyone but this is how we should all think – that we are going there.
“I know there hasn't been a lot of confidence in the team but we feel that is growing and our last camp was probably the best one.
“We felt it before the game started that there was belief, confidence and energy in the squad and long may that continue.
“Anything can happen of course. We can be unlucky in games, with injuries or whatever, but we plan for success.
“These World Cup qualifiers are different - September, October, November… finished.
“We will know where we are after two months, so we need everyone fit and flying for the first games against Hungary and Armenia.”
Hence the reason for his reversion to rotation. Gaps left by his leg-weary Championship performers being rested are there to be seized upon by others.
John Patrick Finn, Spanish-born to his late father John from Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, has featured 14 times for Stade Reims since his January move to the French top-flight.
Spain and the homeland of his mother, Cameroon, were both interested in his allegiance but the elegant playmaker didn’t take long to accept his maiden invite. Ireland have been crying out for a creative spark in the engine-room to complement the guile of Josh Cullen.
“You can see his style is a bit different,” explained Hallgrímsson.
“We don’t have a lot of depth and height but he’s still young and we don’t know where the future takes him.”
This will be the final audition for newcomers. Since the early eye-opener of defeats to England and Greece last September, one constant has been Hallgrímsson’s desire for a settled team.
That he’s dispensing with continuity for these run-outs doesn’t mean the established props of Cullen, Azaz and Johnston are at risk of losing their spots come September 6 when Dominik Szoboszlai and the Magyars rock up to Lansdowne Road.
"There are players whose performances in March we were really happy with,” he reasoned, confessing he’s not wedded to a starting XI for that World Cup opener.
“But the risk is they come in 70%, 70% focused and they have a bad game. That would dent the good feeling we got from Bulgaria.
“There are pros and cons to what we’re doing.
“What I’ve seen from us, rather than the other teams in the group, gives me confidence.
“Hungary, ourselves and even Portugal will share points, so I think that gives us more chances to progress.
“In Iceland, we didn't have the best players playing at the highest quality level but we qualified.
“That kind of experience gives me hope because I see a lot of similarities with this squad. Our players are at a higher club level than we had in Iceland.
“I really think we have a good chance if we stick together, believe and we work as one.”
Thursday, March 20: Bulgaria 1 Ireland 2.
Sunday, March 23: Ireland 2 Bulgaria 1.
Fri, June 6: Ireland v Senegal, Aviva Stadium (7.45pm).
Tuesday June 10: Luxembourg v Ireland, Stade de Luxembourg (7.45pm).
Saturday, Sept 6: Ireland v Hungary, Aviva Stadium (7.45pm)
Tuesday, Sept 9: Armenia v Ireland, TBC (5pm)
Saturday, Oct 11: Portugal v Ireland, TBC (7.45pm)
Tuesday, Oct 14: Ireland v Armenia, Aviva Stadium (7.45pm).
Thursday, Nov 13: Ireland v Portugal, Aviva Stadium (7.45pm).
Sunday, Nov 16: Hungary v Ireland, TBC (2pm, Irish Time).
Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Max O'Leary (Bristol City), Josh Keeley (Leyton Orient, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).
Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Andrew Omobamidele (Strasbourg, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Liam Scales (Celtic), Robbie Brady (Preston North End).
Jason Knight (Bristol City), Killian Phillips (St. Mirren, on loan from Crystal Palace), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), John Joe Patrick Finn (Stade De Reims).
Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Evan Ferguson (West Ham United, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Celtic), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Festy Ebosele (Istanbul Basaksehir), Ryan Manning (Southampton).
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