Hallgrímsson: Ireland should be 'optimistic' about getting through March playoffs

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson before the playoff draw on Thursday. Pic: Priscila Bütler/Inpho

Heimir Hallgrímsson says his Ireland players should be ‘optimistic’ about navigating through the March playoffs for a spot at a first World Cup since 2002.

Ireland’s reward for snaffling the runners-up spot behind Portugal on Sunday was a semi-final trip to Czechia on March 26.

Thursday’s draw in Zurich also decreed they will meet the victor between Denmark and North Macedonia in the final. That fixture, on March 31, would take place in Dublin arising from the open draw.

Ireland head into the next year on the back of three straight victories, the last two over the teams that were ranked five and 37, Portugal and Hungary. Czechia are now 44th.

“There should be optimism in our squad, there should be,” declared Ireland boss Hallgrímsson in reaction to the draw.

“I said to the guys I didn’t care that much who the opponent would be because it’s all teams ranked above.

“All those teams would have home advantage so for me it’s not much of a difference who we face.

Hallgrimsson and Johnny Kenny celebrate after late comeback against Hungary. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

“I know Czechia as a football nation. I managed against them with Iceland and lost. I know it’s a tough place to go to but anything can happen in this game like we saw in Hungary.

“It’s going to be helpful for us for sure having done what we did in the last three games but Czechia are higher than us in the Fifa rankings.

“They drew against Croatia, who I know very well, so it shows what they can produce.

“They have been inconsistent in their results but I know how good they can be. Let’s hope they will not peak in March.

“The most exciting thing was that, if we manage to win the first game, we would get a home game for the second one. We’re kind of happy with that.” Momentum is with Ireland, so the four month delay isn’t ideal. The return from injury of key players Robbie Brady and Evan Ferguson will also be crucial to a one-off tie that will be settled by penalties if necessary.

“There is positivity and optimism at the moment - even with us missing a lot of key players from the squad,” explained the Icelander.

“So hopefully with some key players coming back we even have a stronger squad going there.

“There is optimism from the recent games but whether that will still be in their heads in March we don’t know.

“That’s why it’s important to look back and not only celebrate the wins but remember why it happened and keep on working and improving this squad.

“We still need to improve because the games will become bigger.”