Ireland must be brave to hurt Portugal, insists Cullen

Given Ireland will probably need to avoid defeat to avoid being eliminated from the battle for second with Sunday to spare, the 29-year-old has called for an adventurous outlook by his team.

Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and Josh Cullen during a Republic of Ireland training session. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Josh Cullen is confident Ireland can hurt Portugal in Thursday’s penultimate World Cup qualifier once they adopt a braver approach than last month’s meeting.

Rúben Neves punctured Ireland’s resistance with a stoppage-time winner in Lisbon, leaving Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side likely requiring four points from the final double-header that concludes in Hungary on Sunday afternoon.