Qatar provides ideal chance to shine ahead of Nations League campaign

Joe Hodge during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

As the heatwave subsides, it's time for cool heads to crystalise what can be gained from a summer friendly.

Heimir Hallgrímsson scheduled four of them in between competitive campaigns, but in reality, the visit of Qatar is the optimal occasion to rehearse for the Uefa Nations League campaign kicking off in September.

Ireland’s players were still in aftershock mode from Prague when they hosted North Macedonia in a bore draw in March.

The 5-0 stroll over Grenada in Spain last Saturday week was completed primarily by a grouping of fringe players vying to break from the periphery when the serious business resumes.

Moreover, the fact that three first-choices, Caoimhín Kelleher, Dara O’Shea and Jayson Molumby, are excused after this home game means the experimentation will return for the trip to Montreal on Friday week.

That clash against the Canadians is for the likes of uncapped trio Jaden Umeh, Mason Melia and Dawson Devoy to be blooded.

Qatar share their World Cup group with Canada and Hallgrímsson knows from his two-and-a-half years managing Al-Arabi in the Gulf State their strategy of naturalising foreign-born players in time for hosting the last tournament in 2022.

Sudanese striker Almoez Ali, for instance, is their focal point in attack, his 12 goals bettered only by Erling Haaland’s 16 in World Cup qualifying across all confederations.

Julen Lopetegui’s side sit four places ahead of Ireland at 55 in Fifa’s rankings but their problem heading Stateside is a paucity of matches. 

Their March series of three friendlies was cancelled due to the invasion by Iran and then the Ebola outbreak.

That they’ve lost three of their last four games, to Zimbabwe, Palestine and Tunisia, should convince Ireland they can stretch their unbeaten run to seven (excluding the penalty shootout heartbreak in Prague).

Hallgrímsson’s side should resemble the one that found form in the past seven months. Kelleher will operate behind a familiar back three, with Liam Scales potentially moving into the left-wing back role. 

Séamus Coleman winning his 80th cap on the opposite flank is a given.

Jumping ahead of midfield, Troy Parrott has shaken off a rib injury that curtailed his involvement in likely his last Eredivisie game last Sunday week to be passed fit. 

The combo of Chiedozie Ogbene and Jack Moylan, so effective against Grenada, are tipped to support Ireland’s ace marksman.

Molumby’s status as one of the manager’s go-to outlets should see him harness midfield, with the other spot offering scope for a newcomer. 

Killian Phillips’ Ireland career, to some, perished from an erratic substitute’s appearance in defeat to Armenia last September but he’s back in the fold. 

Joe Hodge is the other option in the engine-room and appears the favourite of the uncapped cohort to be unleashed.

Had Southampton not been kicked out of the playoff final, and their replacements Middlesbrough not lost it on Saturday, then Finn Azaz, Ryan Manning, Alan Browne and Alex Gilbert might be available.

The manager admits the quartet, three of whom featured against Czechia, could be overtaken by the supporting cast with a view to the Nations League kicking off with a four-game window straddling September and October.

“I got the reasons why they’re not here and we’re just happy with the players we have,” Hallgrímsson said about the drop-outs.

“We’re trying to focus on those that we are working with, not those not here.

“The negative side of not coming, being injured, is you give others an opportunity to play and shine. Hopefully this is like what happened in Spain when Jack Moylan grabbed his opportunity with a hat-trick.

“It’s about moments and being ready when the opportunity comes.

“Séamus talked about these daily habits, training hard every day, so that you’re ready when the opportunity comes.

“It’s about motivation and daily habits.” 

Had Ireland reached the World Cup, then a swansong Stateside beckoned for Coleman. 

A chat with the Icelander on the back of the team bus after training influenced the 37-year-old’s decision to break ties with Everton after 17 years in pursuit of gametime to remain active for Ireland.

“He needs to stay as fit as possible,” Hallgrímsson said about the veteran’s next club move.

“Hopefully he will play more than he did this season but he proved me wrong.

“He doesn't need to play much to be playing at an international level, so I'm really happy that he's staying on and playing on.

“Look at this squad, the value of having a player like him and more of the other players, with all these younger players taking their first steps in an international stage, is massive.”