'I see it as a glass half-full situation': Hallgrímsson bullish about completing 'miracle'

Ireland's head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson reacts to Evan Ferguson’s goal. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

Heimir Hallgrímsson is taking the half glass full mentality into the November shootout, adamant his words won’t prevent others feeling the opposite.

Tuesday’s first win of the World Cup campaign against Armenia was a hard-fought victory but the significance of it was tempered by second seeds Hungary pinching a late equaliser away to group leaders Portugal.

Ireland will be without the suspended Ryan Manning and Jayson Molumby for the visit of the Portuguese to Dublin on November 13, while a second booking of the campaign also rules out Bruno Fernandes for the visitors.

Should, as expected, Hungary open up a four-point lead on Ireland by prevailing in Yerevan in the afternoon, then Ireland will know they require at least a point from the fifth-best team in the world to make the final day’s shootout in Budapest relevant.

Even then, a goal difference larger than the current two will exist when Ireland go chasing a last-ditch overhaul in the final game, seeking a playoff hit in March at reaching the 2026 World Cup in North America.

In the wake of losing 2-1 to Armenia in Yerevan, Hallgrímsson described Ireland’s route to the World Cup needing a ‘miracle’.

“I actually always like to go down to the wire,” said Hallgrímsson.

“We just needed three points from Armenia to release the pressure and have a chance. It wasn’t beautiful but we got the win.

“Result, rather than performance, is what mattered most. This Armenia team was no pushover.” 

Hallgrímsson also pointed out the victory snapped the plague of second-game syndrome.

It occurred in both the June and September windows that a promising first half showing, in this case Senegal and Hungary, gave way to underwhelming ones against Luxembourg and Armenia.

“We said before this camp that we would take a scrappy 1-0 win,” reasoned the Icelander.

“We also sorted out the second-game syndrome problem and didn’t concede early. After a strong performance in Portugal, we got the win here.

“We can't be unhappy and complain.” 

A minimum four-point haul from matches against the top two seeds appears daunting but not to Hallgrímsson, “We always knew we'd have to win away to Hungary but now we need at least a point against Portugal.

“That's my view. You (media) decide if you see the glass half-empty or half-full.

“It's your job. It doesn't matter what I say here. The power of the media is yours.”