'Just pain, we only feel pain': Heimir Hallgrimsson gutted but vows Ireland will 'start again'

The Iceland native saw his side's campaign end in heartbreak after a penalty shootout loss in Prague. 

Ireland's Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson applauds fans after the Ireland game. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Emotions swirled after this one. Heimir Hallgrimsson, the ice cool, calm and collected Icelandic prophet who took the Republic of Ireland to the brink of the promised land, was no different in that sense.

A World Cup penalty shootout loss will do that. His side had this one in their grip at 2-0 up midway through the second-half. They were almost there until Ladislav Krecji equalised in the 86th minute. And they looked good again when Czechia missed the first spotter.

So many ifs, buts and maybes. So many emotions, but one more than most.

“Pain,” said Hallgrimsson. “Just one word, pain. I feel pain. I feel pride in the performance of the players, they gave it their all. I feel gratitude towards the supporters who turned up and supported us through the whole game and even after. I feel pride being a part of that group but personally, and I know all the players will feel pain now. Only pain, I would say.” 

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

Nathan Collins cracked one off the crossbar in the opening minutes. Jayson Molumby found a post after the break. Troy Parrott had a header turned round a post. The penalty misses by Finn Azaz and Alan Browne will feature most in the edited highlights.

So too will the penalty given away by Ryan Mannings shortly after an own goal had given the visitors that two goal buffer. It was an act of madness, impetuousness. His instinct told him to pull the shirt and instinct doesn’t hesitate.

Things changed after that. A hesitant home team grew in belief. Their fans too.

“It was a game of set plays, high balls, duels. It fell for us and we were 2-0 up and then maybe too early… It’s never the right time to concede a goal but right after we scored the second goal they got one back.

“From then I just thought neither team got a grip of the game and had it under control. It was more about fighting, high balls, duels, set plays. I felt when we scored the second goal we were having more control. Yeah, just a lot of emotions. A lot at stake in this game.”

Most important of all was the news that Sammie Szmodics, knocked unconsciousness towards the end of extra-time had come around and was spending the night under supervision in hospital before being allowed to fly home.

There’s perspective in that.

For Hallgrimsson and his players and staff there is now the unenviable job of returning to Dublin for a dead rubber friendly against North Macedonia next Tuesday. The World Cup rolls on without them. Nothing left for it to take stock.

A ‘home’ Euros holds out tempting prospects in 2028 but that feels a long way removed from here. Progress has been halted for now but progress has very definitely been made. Even in the shadow of so much disappointment. Hallgrimsson could cling to that.

“We take with us that we can play teams higher ranked than us on the Fifa rankings, punch above our weight, whether it is Portugal or Hungary or here. And compete with these teams.

“We came here with three wins in a row. It’s a long time since that happened for this national team so there is growth. In this squad. It is maturing. This is the biggest game that most of these players have played so that is encouraging and shows we are growing.

“Still, it is always strange to say that after you lose today. I know that I am biased but all the statistics and the metrics around the team have improved. Big games on the line, crunch time all the time, and we have managed to go through this.

“We have managed to show the resilience and that’s why I feel confident that we will keep on improving.”