'We should get praised for playing Séamus Coleman' - Heimir Hallgrímsson defends selection process

The Ireland boss defended his decision to abseil three recalled players, Coleman, Festy Ebosele and Jayson Molumby, straight into the side for the draw in Portugal on Saturday and Tuesday’s 1-0 victory.

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and Seamus Coleman. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.

From an initial desire for consistency of selection, the changed landscape has taught Heimir Hallgrímsson that inconsistency is bearable.

The Ireland manager has changed personnel and tactics over the past two windows.

He’ll be flexible again when it comes to the concluding World Cup qualifiers at home to Portugal on November 13 and away to Hungary three days later.

Tuesday’s underwhelming victory ensured Ireland heading into the final double-header with an outside chance of snaring the runners-up berth and a playoff for next year’s tournament in North America.

Hungary’s late equaliser at Portugal deepened the task. A constant message from Hallgrímsson since his arrival had been his search for a settled XI, supported by a handful of reliable substitutes.

Instead, the four matches in this campaign alone featured 24 players and it seems he’s no closer to knowing his preferred line-up.

“We would always pick the best team we think is suited to play this next opponent,” he said, defending his decision to abseil three recalled players, Séamus Coleman, Festy Ebosele and Jayson Molumby, straight into the side for the draw in Portugal on Saturday and Tuesday’s 1-0 victory.

“You know that we wanted to call Séamus for the last camp but it was difficult to justify his selection. Two Premier League full-backs were ahead of him.

“This was a good opportunity to justify it and I think we should get praised for bringing him in and playing him, rather than be criticised for not picking him earlier. Even if Everton don’t play him, we believe in Séamus.

“We needed leadership after losing in Armenia. Séamus has been a leader and we used that. Same for John Egan. He defends and clears headers for a living.

“We don’t have the luxury of thinking backwards. We’ll never know it would have been better or worse with Séamus in September. We will be criticised, no matter what squad we pick.”

Molumby and Ryan Manning will miss the Portugal rematch after picking up a second booking of the campaign.

Set-piece specialist Robbie Brady joined the squad for Tuesday’s game but his calf remains in a protective boot and he will miss out again.

Sticking with the back-five blanket against inferior opposition of Armenia drew flak but it seems the reversion to a system he abandoned two games into his 14-match reign will apply again in November.

He denied the overhaul arose from losing belief in his players’ capabilities.

He said: “We found a formation that makes us concede less chances than before, so there’s a few things we can use in November.

“Because there's only one training day in between games in camp, we kept the same system rather than change.

“Still, we should have pressed Armenia higher than we did.

“When you have opponents like Hungary with all their individual quality, when you have opponents like Portugal with all their goals in their players, you need to be solid in defence.

“We've talked about stopping the concession of early goals. We got a clean sheet against Armenia and we must continue that.

“I think that's our way to win games at this moment.”

Shutouts won’t be sufficient for Ireland to complete the pool turnaround by usurping Hungary on the final day.

At least a draw at home to Portugal will be needed, followed by victory in Budapest.

Foreseeing that outcome leans on patriotic optimism because Ireland’s attacking prowess only materialised after both Hungary and Armenia lost a player to a red card apiece.

In normal circumstances, Ireland struggle to penetrate.

Something sensational on the run-in – akin to Shane Long’s winner against Germany a decade ago - will have to be accomplished for the flicker of a first tournament in a decade to sustain.

Passive, listless, lacklustre – all those worthy criticisms can’t recur for the elusive dream to gain credence.

“Let’s just try to produce a red card,” the manager said with a giggle, pining for a hat-trick of numerical advantages.

“We have nothing to lose and we know that. There is a new dawn in the final window. We always knew we'd have to win away to Hungary but now must get at least a point against Portugal.

“We need to be clinical in the chances we create. With the Irish crowd here, we can also manage to get something from that match. That is my belief.

“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.”