Hopes had been excessive heading into this marketing campaign because the Republic of Eire regarded to succeed in a primary World Cup since 2002 on the again of having fun with an unbeaten begin to 2025.
That optimism has rapidly evaporated as Hallgrimsson’s aspect have solely a solitary level to indicate from their first two outings in Group F.
Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Hungary in Dublin confirmed each optimistic and damaging components..
They trailed 2-0 at half-time, having paid the value for 2 defensive errors, and had been indebted to goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher for the truth that their deficit was not higher.
But, as appeared to have grow to be their customized, they discovered a strategy to come again, with Adam Idah’s late equaliser simply reward for taking the sport to the Hungarians after the break.
That equaliser breathed some adolescence into their qualification ambitions, however any momentum generated from that fantastic second half show rapidly evaporated within the searing Yerevan warmth.
Hallgrimsson regarded to rectify the errors made within the first half towards Hungary the place the Irish midfield was overrun.
Jack Taylor got here in to affix Josh Cullen and Jason Knight for the encounter with Armenia, however that midfield mixture lasted simply 45 minutes.
Taylor was hooked on the break, with the Republic boss opting to convey on Adam Idah as a second striker and to alter form in an try to achieve the higher hand.
As an alternative of getting a helpful impression, that change in the end contributed to his aspect’s woes on the different finish of the pitch as, with simply Cullen and Knight, their midfield regarded porous and successive lengthy balls from Armenian defenders repeatedly minimize out each gamers.
That half-time change left former Republic of Eire goalkeeper Shay Given unimpressed.
“What struck me was that earlier than the sport, Heimir mentioned how we’ve to stack midfield a bit extra and the way we’ve to get extra our bodies in there and the way it will likely be received and misplaced there.
“Then he made a change and introduced Idah on and left us actually sparse in midfield and you could possibly see how simply Armenia had been enjoying via the traces,” he mentioned on RTE Two.
Killian Phillips, who got here on within the second half was the fourth and remaining central midfield choice, which highlights the actual dearth of expertise obtainable in what has grow to be an issue space for the squad.
Cullen and Knight are Hallgrimsson’s most well-liked engine room duo, however they lack the tempo, physicality and technical attributes to essentially make a distinction.
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