Hallgrímsson, the new manager of the Republic of Ireland’s football team, is all too familiar with the difficulties that have historically plagued the team. The troubles, which are well-documented and known not only by his predecessors but also the public, have been thrown into sharp relief by the team’s recent 2-0 loss to Greece in Dublin. This followed a difficult 15-month spell where the Irish were bested three times by the same Greek team.
Hallgrímsson himself confessed, “It’s never going to be easy,” indicating that some players find the stress of playing for the national team too overwhelming, thus affecting their sport performance.
The key to improving, according to Hallgrímsson, lies in developing a stronger bond between the players. Understanding each other on a level where they can predict their teammate’s moves and take faster decisions will drastically enhance their game play. This lack of unity and understanding enables their opponents to gain the upper hand.
Hallgrímsson described the task ahead, stating that the focus shouldn’t purely be on recruiting new players but instead on building a consistent team, as even minor mistakes can lose them a match at this level.
After the recent Nations League games against England and Greece, where they suffered two losses without any goals scored, it was clear to Hallgrímsson that the team lacked confidence. Since 2012, the men’s senior team has lost 21 out of 22 matches against higher ranking countries.
Despite these hardships, Hallgrímsson noticed considerable improvement in the team’s performance during the England match. He even felt the team ought to have led at half-time, only for Greece to score the opening goal, wildly changing the game dynamics.
Hallgrímsson, having endured a similar struggle when manager for Jamaica before ultimately securing victory against Trinidad 4-1 in June 2023, empathises with the team’s plight. He’s no stranger to loss and understands that unfortunately a losing streak can be as contagious as winning, as reflected by the team’s lack of confidence.
“When a team lacks self-assurance, they often concede goals like that.”
Hallgrímsson’s freshly-formed Ireland XI had a promising start, marked by Szmodics and Ogbene’s threatening presence on the field. However, Fotis Ioannidis managed to score a long-distance goal five minutes into the second half.
“Had we been more attentive, we would not have retreated, offering him an opportunity to fire. Undoubtedly, there’s room for improvement in these aspects as we move forward.”
Devoted Irish fans might find his optimism hard to stomach, having seen a flood of 11 distant shots flit past Gavin Bazunu and Caoimhín Kelleher since 2021.
“The team’s formation effectively countered Greece’s strategies, and I was particularly pleased by half time. I instructed the players not to allow Greece any chances.”
The next stop is Helsinki to play against a Finnish team defeated 2-0 by England on a Tuesday night, before returning to Athens, and finally Wembley come November.
Clearly, it is not going to be a walk in the park.