Door still ajar for Ireland but open wounds remain

Republic of Ireland players huddle before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F qualifying match between Portugal and Republic of Ireland at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

In the City of Light, Ireland displayed enough glimpses to suggest they’ve emerged from the darkness.

One point from the nine available in the first half of the campaign would test that theory but Tuesday will determine either way.

Beat Armenia at home, coupled with a Portuguese win over Hungary in Lisbon on the same night, and all roads could lead to a shootout with the Magyars on November 16.

There are a few presumptions factored in there, including the necessity to win by more than a single goal in Budapest due to goal difference criteria.

Another subplot is the likelihood of Portugal coming to Dublin three days earlier already assured of their ticket to the World Cup in North America next year.

Amid these possibilities sits the imperative of Ireland taking the initiative against an Armenian side they were second best against in the loss four weeks ago.

Having to win a match on Tuesday demands a different mindset from trying not to lose, as was the case in Lisbon.

One of Heimir Hallgrímsson’s mainstays, Josh Cullen, won’t be available after incurring a second yellow card of the campaign, guaranteeing at least one change. Will Smallbone is favourite to deputise.

Troy Parrott is also in line to be part of the altered approach, complementing or replacing Evan Ferguson following his exertions ploughing a lone furrow.

“It will just be a different game with different formations,” highlighted Hallgrímsson about the alternative outlook facing a side beaten 2-0 by Hungary on Saturday.

“Armenia could have equalised before Hungary got their second on the break in stoppage time.

“We should know now that we shouldn't underestimate Armenia but we can take a lot from this performance against Portugal, especially all the team aspects.” 

For all that feeling of consolation, Ireland head into a must-win match wounded by another defeat. Hallgrímsson has referenced the psychological scars within the squad from a period of failure stretching almost a decade since the last major tournament.

Losing in such cruel fashion stirs all sorts of emotions, though not necessarily the presumption of a spiral.

“Some players will take it seriously that we lost this match,” he acknowledged. “Maybe they’ll take it more inside than others. We discussed it after the game, knowing that this was the performance we wanted to play. It was unfortunate that it didn't give us at least a deserved point.” 

Painful as it was, Saturday didn’t compare to the pain of Yerevan. Renewing rivalries with the group’s bottom team can prompt the players to either soar or be stifled.

“We know and we accept that game will be with us,” the manager said of the crushing blow against the team ranked 105 in Fifa’s standings.

“If we’d have won in Portugal, everybody would say, ‘Only if we could have won in Armenia’.

“So, it’s going to haunt us anyway.” 

Saturday’s display did at least dispel questions about messaging from management.

Finn Azaz dropped a bombshell in midweek by indicating Ireland were unprepared for the onslaught Armenia inflicted.

It was swiftly followed by a rebuke from Hallgrímsson in his pre-match press conference and it was curious to see Azaz, a starter in both of the September matches, unused while 16 players were involved.

Adam Idah was another left idle and his decision to head straight for the tunnel at half-time was out of kilter with the rest. He wasn’t backwards about coming forwards in May to question the manager’s selection, gesturing the shush sign when scoring the winner as a substitute against Bulgaria.

“Every player wants to play games,” said the manager when asked about potential disappointment at the Corkman.

“We all have different ways of expressing ourselves. I like players who want to play. That's the player you want in your team.” 

Three goals scored in three games doesn’t imbue confidence about Ireland suddenly becoming sharpshooters to jump two places in the table from the foot into the runner-up berth. Idah will be called upon to bolster that quest.

“We can definitely qualify because but it's still in our hands,” emphasised the Icelander.

“We just need to focus on us and don't think about other results. If we get three points on Tuesday, we're still alive in this group.”