Heimir Hallgrimsson hilariously surprised with birthday gift from Ireland fans before Luxembourg friendly
HEIMIR Hallgrimsson was presented with a card on his birthday as his side prepared to face Luxembourg in a friendly.
Ireland
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The newly 58 year-old is a favourite with Ireland supporters
Hallgrimsson was serenaded by the Ireland fans during his sides warm up, who sang his name to the tune of 'Don't Stop the Party' by Pitbull and TJR.
When going over to the supporters, the Icelandic was presented with a birthday card from the stands.
The manager gratefully accepted and posed for a photograph with the fan.
That was about as exciting as the 58th birthday celebrations got as his side played out a bore 0-0 draw.
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Ireland could only produce two shots on target in the 90 minutes but came close striking the woodwork twice through Nathan Collins and Jack Taylor in the second half.
Luxembourg went into the game having won just once in 18 months and finishing rock bottom of their Nations League C group.
Post-match captain Nathan Collins
He said: 'Before the game, we didn't want it to be that last game, end-of-season friendly feel to it."
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But unfortunately that was the reality for the centre back who was on the end of Ireland's best chance of the game.
The boss
'It's good to keep a clean sheet but we all felt that in the first half we were sloppy, the game was boring in the first half.
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"All the good things we did against Senegal were missing, all the quick movement, the press, the ball speed - so sloppy.
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It wasn't all doom and gloom on Hallgrimsson's birthday as a first start was had for
Ireland are next in action in a World Cup qualifier against Hungary on 6 September in the Aviva stadium.
The players (barring Josh Honohan) will now have some holiday time in preparation for the 25/26 club season and the much anticipated World Cup qualifiers.
The majority of EFL Championship players involved in the squad were given extra holiday time by Hallgrimsson.
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When picking his squad, he left out the majority of Championship players because their season finished five weeks ago telling them to rest up for the World Cup qualifiers.
In fact, they told them to take a holiday this year because there would be none next year as Ireland prepared for the World Cup!
If Josh Cullen, Finn Azaz et al were watching last night in a beach bar, they will have seen that they were missed and should be back in the side for the autumn qualifiers.
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