Heimir Hallgrímsson exhibits a calming aura, akin to that of a wellness app rather than the expected intensity of a manager for the Ireland men’s football squad. He remains composed, avoiding extremes of either excessive optimism or volatility. Rather than disputing if the glass is half-full or half-empty, his approach is to sort the tap itself. Though the real test of his serene demeanour will be the actual games of Irish soccer, with both England and Greece visiting the Aviva stadium within the next ten days – teams that have historically inflicted torment on generations of Irish teams seeking an advancement of their standings.
At present, Hallgrímsson’s advent into his role has been devoid of any uproar, climaxing with his assembling of his initial squad, which he freely admits has been chosen as much by John O’Shea and Paddy McCarthy as by himself. He doesn’t pretend to be an instant authority on Irish football just a few weeks into his position, acknowledging that such an expectation isn’t feasible.
Hallgrímsson displays a clear lack of interest in goals that are not achievable, which encompasses aspects such as team selection, playing style, expectations and more. He shows no rigid attachment to any specific formation and doesn’t regard it as crucial for his Irish squads to master any single one.
According to him, he has never favoured one system over another. Instead, he focuses more on the underlying game principles, regardless of whether they play with three or four in defence. The central driving factors are what suits the players and the specific opponents they face. His vision includes the ability to modify in-game tactics against differing adversaries, which will come to fruition as the squad develops its functional unit and grasps both individual and team strategy. This flexibility would be something that he’d be excited to see implemented.
The new coach for the Ireland national team doesn’t intend to shift your outlook, if you believe significant adaptability currently seems far fetched. He has no intention to fan the flames of cultural disputes nor exaggerate or downplay the circumstances he faces. In response to queries about his teams playing out from the back, he refrained from firmly attaching to doctrines.
“My view is that gradual development will be our approach, given the brief time I’ve spent with the squad,” he expressed. “It’s not a facet that can be imposed. Instead, it will evolve over time and is likely to be one of the last changes. Priority will be given to scoring goals rather than investing all efforts into setup. If the build-up abets scoring, we will direct attention to it.”
His responses suggest a blend of qualities seldom seen in previous Ireland coaches. The idealism of Stephen Kenny wasn’t in high demand towards the close of his tenure. The realism of Hallgrímsson, in contrast, marks a significant shift. The Iceland native exhibits a humility in stark contrast to the Trapattoni/O’Neill era or even parts of Mick McCarthy’s second stint. A presumptuous belief that the manager is doing the country a favour by accepting the post is not something Irish football needs. Hallgrímsson thankfully does not emanate such an air.
“I am typically pragmatic in all respects,” he declared. “We are a committed team, including both federation members and players, all striving to perform well. Everyone is eager to contribute their best. The overall positivity is very reassuring, and I’ve encountered no pessimism since my arrival. Although initial leniency may be granted, I am confident in my ability to execute effectively.”
The first match against England could swing either way. Avoiding a thrashing by the consecutive European finalists will assure the new coach a sizeable extension to his grace period. Conversely, a heavy defeat will quickly introduce him to the harsh reality of his role.
Looking forward to the match, everyone has informed me that it seems like we’re participating in a single contest with England. However, I firmly believe that we shouldn’t sideline our game against Greece, which is due only three days afterward. It would be unwise to spend three days celebrating a victory against England and not prepare for the Greece match. Friendly banter about defeating England aside, this emphasises my key point.
Staying balanced, not getting too elated, or too dejected is crucial. His resilience is indeed commendable. One would think that being spearheading the Ireland squad might deplete these reserves.
Here’s the lineup for the Republic of Ireland for the imminent Nations League games against England and Greece.
Caoimhín Kelleher from Liverpool, Mark Travers from AFC Bournemouth, and Max O’Leary from Bristol City serve as goalkeepers. A robust line of defenders include Séamus Coleman from Everton, Matt Doherty from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Dara O’Shea from Ipswich Town among others. The midfield is manned by Will Smallbone from Southampton, Jayson Molumby from West Bromwich Albion and a team of others. The line of forwards includes talents like Adam Idah from Celtic, Evan Ferguson from Brighton and Hove Albion, and Sammie Szmodics from Ipswich Town.
The first match against England will be played on the 7th of September, Saturday at 5pm in Aviva Stadium. This will be followed by the game against Greece on the 10th of September, Tuesday at 7.45pm, at the same location.
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