Heimir Hallgrímsson: 'I hope we can look back saying these players started something special for Irish football'
HUNGARY, WHAT'S THE SCORE?: Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson celebrates. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Heimir Hallgrímsson hailed his Irish heroes, hoping their Budapest bombshell can reverberate for an age.
Troy Parrott’s hat-trick against Hungary completed an epic turnaround in the World Cup qualifying group for the Icelander and his team, sealing entry into Thursday’s draw for the playoffs.
Hallgrímsson maintained his calm persona throughout the campaign which seemed to hit rock bottom after just two games with defeat in Armenia.
Back-to-back wins over the top seeds in the space of three days contributed to what the manager predicted as the miracle necessary to usurp the Magyars for second spot.
“I hope we can look back in 10 years saying these players started something special for Irish football,” said Hallgrímsson about the prospect of ending a 24-year wait for a World Cup appearance.
“I know where we are as a team and what this means, not only for this group.
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“This is an opportunity for growth. I think if we keep on growing by the team winning, that will help the FAI financially. It, in turn, helps all Irish football, including the women's team.
“Success is not that we won this game here, it’s a constant journey in the right direction.
“It's not a place and a moment and. Let's enjoy this moment but don't forget where we are and where we're going.”
Ireland are going into Thursday’s draw in Zurich alongside 15 other nations. Four will emerge from the semis and finals next March with golden tickets to the expanded 48-nation showpiece co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
How they got there was still being absorbed in the bowels of the Puskás Arena by players but the part-time dentist has a clinical take on a match that saw Ireland twice come from behind before finally leading when it mattered.
“Hungary got scared in the end, so they dropped off,” said Hallgrímsson about the late drama.
“Hungary were probably better than us on the day today, especially in the first half when we struggled.
“Our players kept on believing and we kept on knocking and took chances.
“We had three strikers up front in the end. Sometimes you're punished for doing things like this, but luckily for us we weren't today.”
After three wins on the bounce, his team has momentum as they move within two games of the World Cup.
“We are in a positive spiral and have the weapons to qualify,” asserted the former Iceland and Jamaica manager.
“Portugal was the biggest game in an Ireland shirt for these players but this was bigger. The playoff will be the biggest.
“We need to use this moment to understand what created this, to look back on everything and give thanks to the people that have supported these players along the journey.
“In these moments, you will have a lot of friends but that's not the friends that will call you and pick you up and give you energy when you lose games. They deserve the credit.”
Parrott was in tears at the full-time whistle, rushing to embrace his mother Jennifer and family in the crowd.
"It's the first time I've cried in years,” he said. “I really, really can't believe it. I said against Portugal that this is what dreams are made of but I don't think I'll ever have a better night than this in my whole life.
"This is why we love football, because things like this can happen. Look, I love where I'm from, so this means the world to me. It’s great to have my family here.
"Everyone wrote us off at the start of the group and I couldn't have said it enough. There's always a chance and we've taken the chance.
"I think everyone should be proud of the group of players that are over there. To go down in the game twice and then to come back like that is beautiful."
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