FAI's David Courell happy to conduct reviews
FAI CEO David Courell says he is happy to lead a review into the performance of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson if a replacement for outgoing chief football officer Marc Canham is not in place before the climax of Ireland's World Cup campaign in the autumn.
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The Irish Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
World Cup winner and one-club legend, 48, rolls back the years with stunning goal from HALFWAY line
WORLD CUP winner Francesco Totti showed class is permanent with a stunning goal from the HALFWAY LINE. The Italian football legend was starring in an amateur game organised by Operazione Nostalgia in Parma. 9 Francesco Totti rolled back the years as he scored an incredible goal Credit: 9 Totti received the ball in the centre circle Credit: 9 He took a touch forward before doing the unthinkable Credit: 9 He blasted a shot towards goal Credit: 9 Goalkeeper Sebastien Frey backpedalled to try and keep the shot out Credit: 9 But he was left in a heap in the side netting as Totti's shot went in off the crossbar Credit: But it was the With just over 20 minutes on the clock, Totti received the ball just inside the centre circle after having the ball played to him from the right side. The bouncing trajectory of the ball saw Totti control it with the outside of his right boot and direct it in front of him. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL However, after just one bounce Totti did the unthinkable and smashed the ball towards goal with his right foot on the halfway line. The marksman had noticed former Parma and Frey was backpedalling frantically but had to jump to try and stop the ball from sailing into the net. However, Totti's shot had directed itself to the very top corner of the goal and there was ultimately nothing the Frenchman could do to keep it out as it snuck just under the bar. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Frey managed to get fingertips to it, but only pushed in onto the woodwork before it hit the back of the 45-year-old and fell into the net as the goalie stumbled into the side netting. A huge roar went up from the crowd as they took to their feet to give Totti a standing ovation for the brilliant effort. Scott McTominay dances with old fan while puffing on cigarette as never-ending Napoli title party continues Totti's team-mates rushed to him to celebrate the extraordinary goal, with one of them seen jumping on his back. Even Frey, despite his humiliation of conceding from the halfway line, had to respect the audacity of the strike and was seen with a wide smile as he emerged from the goal. The clash between the two teams, with Totti's Rabona coming up against Sombrero, ended with 14 goals as the match ended 7-7. One-club man Totti retired from professional football in 2017. However, the Serie A icon had joked he could still play at the top level and revealed one club - believed to be Cesc Fabregas' Como - had tried to coax him back into playing. Totti had said: "No, it's not a joke. I took it a bit seriously, so let's see. There are one or two teams who have asked about me. "Let's see what my head tells me, but above all my body. Let's see how it reacts. "My head already knows the answer. Who knows what next year will bring." Totti scored 307 goals in 786 club appearances for the Giallorossi, while adding nine goals in 58 Caps for While Totti's goal record could arguably have been better, he had a more than stellar assist record with the national team with 25, including four at the World Cup in 2006 - two of which came in the quarter-finals. 9 Totti's team-mates rushed to celebrate with him Credit: 9 It earned a standing ovation from the crowd Credit: 9 Even Frey saw the funny side of his part of the goal Credit:
Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
"It's something we've come away from as a nation" - Ireland's Dara O'Shea
Dara O'Shea reckons Ireland have found what they were looking for - and if it's good enough for PSG, it's good enough for the Boys in Green. It's not reinventing the wheel either, more so a return to solid, old fashioned values that the Ipswich Town defender feels were missing. Results will dictate whether Heimir Hallgrimsson gets to extend his contract as Ireland manager, because his current deal expires at the end of the World Cup campaign. That means the FAI could be embarking on yet another managerial hunt in November, if Ireland finish third or bottom of a group containing Portugal, Hungary and Armenia. A second-placed finish would extend Hallgrimsson's stay into a playoff semi-final in March, and a final if they win that. And top spot means Ireland will qualify automatically for the 2026 showpiece in America, Canada and Mexico - but that's a tall order. It is notable how bullish Hallgrimsson has been in his belief that Ireland can qualify. He's not shying away from it and, in turn, nor are his players. Hallgrimsson has already said that he got Iceland to the 2018 World Cup with players he feels are not as good as the ones currently at his disposal. Stephen Kenny wasn't shy about making big statements about his Ireland team going into qualifying campaigns, but most of those were over almost as soon as they began. Hallgrimsson has restored a degree of pragmatism to the whole approach, and O'Shea is one of his most trusted lieutenants. And the significance of going unbeaten in the three games this year is not lost on the defender, going into tomorrow's friendly in Luxembourg. O'Shea said: 'We understand the way the manager wants us to play and how he wants us to be as a nation. That's the identity of us as Irish people too. 'Against Senegal, our reaction in the middle of the park, we lost the ball, we got around it. There were some big tackles, some big blocks. That's something that we've kind of come away from as a nation, which we should never - that's our identity, we're hard working people. 'With every successful team, the fundamental is hard work. You watch PSG in the Champions League final, they've got all the talent in the world but they worked hard as well and that's what got them there. We've that embedded in us as Irish people, so we've got to show that on the pitch and not take the moments for granted.' On Friday, Ireland were on track for a third win on the spin only to concede to Senegal eight minutes from time and settle for a 1-1 draw. But after putting Bulgaria to the sword twice in March, it means Ireland remain unbeaten in 2025 and O'Shea insists that's not to be sniffed at. 'There's obviously a mentality aspect of football and winning games and keeping that momentum going is massive,' he said. 'It's something we haven't really had as a nation for a while now. It's something this group hasn't had at all really. 'So it's important that we keep building and don't take the games for granted because before we know it we'll be in the World Cup campaign and right in the thick of it. 'You only get one chance to qualify, so it's important that we make the most of every moment we can. The manager believes in us as a group and he believes in himself. That's massive when you can feel the manager believes in you as a group.' On the club front, O'Shea is reeling after Ipswich were relegated but he is already the subject of fresh Premier League interest for next season. A clubmate of Ireland internationals Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor, O'Shea had a strong individual season and performed well in a losing side. Wolves, Leeds and his former club Burnley are all reportedly keen on making a move this summer. But O'Shea said: 'I'm fully committed to Ipswich at the moment. I've got another four years there and I want to get the club back into the Premier League. 'I'm ambitious as a player and obviously I want to be playing in the Premier League but I know it's not as easy as that. Whatever happens in football it happens for a reason. You have a journey and you've got to stick to that sometimes.' O'Shea added: 'I feel like I'm well capable of playing in the Premier League and I've got to get myself back there now. I spoke to the gaffer at Ipswich and that's the task he's set me - to carry on those standards of a Premier League player and still owe it to myself to be like that. 'It's really hard when you come off the back of relegation but I'm happy with how I played. I've grown into a leader and I play better when I have that responsibility.'
Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland's Kasey McAteer makes World Cup vow to Heimir Hallgrimsson
Kasey McAteer insists he has the X-factor to be Ireland's World Cup star, after nailing his first big audition. And the Leicester City ace warned Chiedozie Ogbene and Sammie Szmodics - who are returning from injury - that their spot in the team is now under threat. McAteer was the 'player of the match' in Friday's 1-1 draw against Senegal and marked his first start with his first goal. He is waiting to see if Heimir Hallgrimsson shakes up his team selection for tomorrow's season-ending friendly here in Luxembourg. But either way, McAteer feels he can impact the World Cup campaign when it starts against Hungary and Armenia in September. 'You want your name being thrown about in conversations around team selections,' said the 23-year-old winger. "I've created a bit of a stir, so hopefully I can keep that going on and get myself in the starting XI. 'I hadn't started before and I got on the scoresheet - that's what I wanted to come in and do. My first goal gives me massive confidence and hopefully I can take that in my stride and keep growing.' And McAteer added: 'My Mum and Dad were there on Friday, so it was good to see them score my first goal on my first start. That's a moment that I'll cherish forever.' McAteer knows Ireland will need Ogbene and Szmodics fit and firing if the Boys in Green are serious about World Cup qualification. But the Leicester attacker has no intention of rolling over and just handing back the jersey in September. Ogbene missed the entire season for Ipswich due to a serious Achilles injury, but is back on the grass and targeting an August return. He had become a key figure for Ireland, and so had his Ipswich clubmate Szmodics who saw the second-half of his own season disrupted by injury. McAteer has no interest in being a flash-in-the-pan star and eyeing the World Cup, he said: 'They're all top players but I know the qualities that I have. 'I need to believe in myself and whatever will be, will be. They are top players and friends of mine so we'll all be pushing each other for a spot. Sometimes in this game, it can be everyone for themselves but I'm sure whatever happens the squad will be strong.' McAteer had his own injuries this season and missed chunks of the Premier League campaign as Leicester were relegated. But he returned to play in the final five games and insists he will stay with the Foxes to get them back up. 'That's the plan,' he said. 'I've been at Leicester since I was eight years old, so I'd never turn my back on the club. It's a club where I've grown, I've loved, I've supported. 'I'll get away in the summer, get a holiday, refresh, regroup and start preseason for Leicester fighting and get us back into the Premier League, where we deserve to be.' And McAteer added: 'I know what levels I can get to at my best. Going back for pre-season, it's about getting in the shop window, into the starting team and getting us back to the Premier League.'
