Whatever about a miracle, Ireland must strive to siphon measure of respectability from Lisbon
IN SYNC: Seamus Coleman, centre, with Mikey Johnston, right, and Dara O'Shea, left, during training. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Portugal jogged through their final preparations in the shadow of Estádio Nacional, the scene of Lisbon Lions lore, but Ireland are the ones chasing an historic feat.
Nostalgia accompanies visits to superpowers but the midweek replays of draws secured away to Germany, Netherlands and even Portugal will be left in the shade by Ireland excavating something from this mission.
Implicit clues from management in the build-up suggest Tuesday’s visit of Armenia to Dublin holds supreme importance within the double-header context.
Portugal’s tag as favourites has been justified by their marauding start to the campaign.
Ireland, Hungary and Armenia were always chasing the runner-up berth and, with it, entrance to a playoff bunfight between 16 nations for the final four places from Europe at next year’s World Cup.
What Ireland must strive to siphon from a testing evening in the Portuguese capital is a measure of respectability.
Evan Ferguson spoke of the hurt caused by deservedly losing in Armenia four weeks ago and that agony isn’t subsiding with the passing of time.
“I think a lot of things went wrong - more things went wrong than went right,” said the striker “Once we came into camp on Monday, we spoke about it. I’d say we keep what we said inside the group but we’ve analysed it. Hopefully we won’t be making the same mistakes again.”
A Portugal side ranked fifth in the world possesses the artillery to deepen the misery, regardless of mistakes.
Ireland’s prospects of snaring what would be a bonus point hinge on delivering a solidified display from back to front.
Considering how exposed Ireland were in midfield last time out, the concept of Nathan Collins being pushed into midfield gains credence.
There are sufficient options at the back, including the returning pair of Séamus Coleman and John Egan, to recalibrate the defence and facilitate the switch.
Collins performed that role admirably last November against England, one of three European nations higher than Portugal in the standings, until a second-half red card for Liam Scales hurtled the wheels off-track at Wembley.
Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto will feast if the space so easily ceded in Yerevan is available again.
Ferguson will be an integral cog to the gameplan too if, as expected, he’s cast as the sole striker.
His new role at AS Roma is that of a quintessential hold-up forward, dropping deep to control passes while runners dash from deep in support.
If Heimir Hallgrímsson’s prediction of 70% possession for the hosts ensues, optimisation of the ball is imperative.
This is where Ferguson thrives, a skillset leant on by Gian Piero Gasperini since he took the 20-year-old to Italy. That he has yet to get off the mark doesn’t bother anyone within the Roma circle.
“I think if you watch the games, I’ve done quite well in most,” he summarised about his loan move from Brighton and Hove Albion.
“When you’re playing more football, you feel better.
“It’s more intense in terms of training and stuff in Italy. I’ve gone through the pre-season, and the seven games of the season. I’m definitely in a different place.
“I’ve not had too many chances. It is what it is, you want to score goals - there is no getting around that - but I’m not really too worried to be honest.”
Should Ferguson find the net for Ireland, he will become the first ever player to score in four competitive matches.
It’s a statistic overshadowed due to the last one coming in a defeat to the nation ranked 105 in Fifa’s standings.
Hallgrímsson has highlighted pressure of recurrent failures scarring players, spoken of as the shirt weighing heavily.
Ferguson slightly disagreed, preferring to reveal the personal anguish from cases of representing your country going awry.
“I wouldn’t say much about a heavy jersey - just that’s a confidence thing,” he reasoned.
“Whoever is here wants to play for their country and wants to play as best as they can.
“No one comes here to want to lose games. We’re trying to build a run of results and hopefully we have the squad now that can do that.
“There’s a mix of players in the past who have gone away to tournaments as well as younger ones who can be here for many years.”
Avenging the Armenia abomination is the ultimate priority from this window, regaining course for the manager’s formula of salvaging second spot.
North America is within touching distance for Cristiano Ronaldo but seems a world away from Ireland. That doesn’t characterise Ferguson’s feelings on the topic.
“There would be no point in being here if we didn’t believe we could qualify for the World Cup,” he asserted.
“Every time we’re together we have the belief. Whatever anyone else says we have to just put aside and come together as a group. We need to do whatever is needed to get ourselves to America next year.”
Channelling Celtic’s 1967 European heroics in the same city would be some start.
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