Right direction: Heimir presents case for Ireland's improvement
HEIMIR TIME: Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson during the draw with North Macdeonia. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
It was approaching 11pm on Tuesday when Heimir Hallgrímsson invited a bunch of journalists into the Ireland dressing-room for a visual illustration of the progress he’s overseen.
“This shows how we are improving,” began the manager. “We have facts that we can back it up. They are not just our thoughts. No bullshit.
“If we are lacking in some area, then we feel that criticism is deserved.
“But this is what we see as the identity for the Irish national team here and now. We will try to grow as we go on into the next campaign, as we continue the journey.”
As he’s speaking, the full stop is put on the last campaign. Czechia beating Denmark on penalties, as they did against Ireland five days earlier, ends their 20-year wait for the World Cup.
It should be Ireland travelling to North America from this playoff path. The players and public know it and so does the management team.
“We have different opinions on the coaching staff,” Hallgrímsson says about the emotions stirred by the team they pushed so close to claiming the ticket.
“I really think it’s good that the Czechs won because it shows us how close we are to this.
“I thought at the beginning that Denmark would come through this because they had the strongest team on paper. But football is not played on paper.”
With that, he glances up from his seated position on the wooden bench towards his assistant John O’Shea, perched against the door.
“I know it’s a dagger in the back,” he says sombrely.
O’Shea’s retort is swift and cutting: “The dagger has gone through my back.”
They’ll take April off before reassembling in early May for the build-up to the Uefa Nations League campaign.
There’s a warm-weather training camp in Murcia on May 7 catering for players whose seasons have ended. No international window means no League of Ireland contenders.
“They will be in season at that time, so it will probably be difficult to get them in the May camp,” said the Icelander.
“If it’s a possibility, we will try to have some but I don’t think it’s an option.
“This is more for the Championship players and those in lower leagues.”
A second friendly preceding the runout against Grenada on May 16, potentially against the same opposition, is being worked on. The full squad will be available for the visit of Qatar on May 28 and the trip to Montreal to provide sendoff opposition for co World Cup hosts Canada.
Any new players added to the unit that are now five games unbeaten, in normal play, will be expected to embrace Hallgrímsson.
While this charter of values was presented previously, he now accompanies it data and results to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Workrate and set-piece mastery underpin the tale of the tape. Indiscipline, shown by Liam Scales missing the crunch Czechia clash due to suspension, is one area to be addressed.
“This is the big picture for us,” he added.
“We are hammering in the same tactical things, our game-plan etc, but if we don’t have a vision of what is the big picture, details really don’t matter. We would like to be judged on these things.”
A series of slides, statistics and graphs are furnished to outline the success from the time he took charge following the failed Euro 2024 campaign.
“All metrics in running and sprinting have improved,” he stressed.
“There is correlation because, statistically, if you do more running, you win more games.
“And then fast attacking, forward-thinking, a lot of things we have improved there tactically, but most of all how we penetrate lines.
“We’ve jumped from being in the lower 20% of teams to being one of the top European teams for penetrating opponents. We’re up there alongside Germany and Spain.”
Concentrating on their strengths drove Ireland’s success in rattling higher seeded Portugal, Hungary and Czechia over successive competitive games.
“We’re in the top percentile of teams getting in behind defences. Previously, it was in the lower 40% of teams.
“Similar for stopping teams playing within our lines. The leap in closing those lines is from the lower 20% into the top 80%.”
Hallgrímsson recently accepting the FAI’s contract offer extension affords him scope to copperfasten his principles.
“It’s about consistency and knowing what you expect. And when clarity comes, you can step up as a leader.
"If you are confused, you can’t never lead and take more responsibility on the field.”
No further ancestral recruits like Harvey Vale are anticipated in the near future, although Chelsea’s Liam Delap is still keeping the door open on switching from England.
“He hasn’t played for England and doesn't look like he is going to the World Cup,” noted the Ireland boss. “He is far away from that but it will be his decision.”
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