Friendlies can help Republic of Ireland prepare for World Cup campaign
The Icelander, who is eight games into the role and to date has enjoyed modest success, took up the reins targeting qualification for next summer's finals, and now has just two matches left in which to finalise his plans.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points surrounding the first of them.
Success breeds success
FT | League B status retained! pic.twitter.com/9HCqWcdyjz
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 23, 2025
Ireland may have slipped to 60th place in FIFA's world rankings, but they will head into the Senegal game with four wins in eight outings under their new head coach. While home and away defeats to England and Greece may not have come as a surprise, home and away wins over Finland and Bulgaria brought a more positive conclusion to the Nations League campaign, and Hallgrimsson's team will run out at the Aviva Stadium with three victories in their last four matches.
On song for September?
Our 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture schedule has been revealed 🇮🇪🤩
We'll begin our campaign at home to Hungary next September 💪
Secure your seat for an exciting 2025 season now 🎟️👉 https://t.co/B27o62TWUp pic.twitter.com/6fP2g37Iz4
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) December 13, 2024
Every step the Icelander has taken so far has been geared towards preparing his team for World Cup qualification. That process begins in September when Ireland face Hungary and Armenia away in fixtures which could go a long way towards determining how they fare in a four-team group which also includes Portugal. The friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg – in which most of Hallgrimsson's Sky Bet Championship players will not be involved – provide a final chance to nail down a plan.
Kick-off for Kelleher
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has completed his move from Liverpool to Brentford (Brian Lawless/PA)
Successive Ireland managers have bemoaned a lack of players playing regularly in Premier League teams, and one has taken decisive action during the current window. Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who has established himself as Hallgrimsson's number one, was allowed to leave the camp to tie up an £18million switch from Liverpool to Brentford which he will hope gives him the football he craves and in turn, secure his place in the national team.
Three into two won't go
Adam Idam is battling Evan Ferguson and Troy Parrott for a place in the Republic of Ireland starting line-up (Brian Lawless/PA)
Evan Ferguson, Troy Parrott and Adam Idah find themselves battling for a place in Ireland's starting line-up with their new boss still working to find the right balance in attack. AZ Alkmaar's Parrott has been the man in form and Celtic frontman Idah ended an at times difficult season with 20 goals and two trophies, while Ferguson, who spent the second half of the campaign on loan at West Ham from Brighton, barely kicked a ball in anger.
Into the Lions' den
Everton's Senegal international midfielder Idrissa Gueye could come up against the Republic of Ireland on Friday night (Cody Froggatt/PA)
Senegal are ranked 19th in the world for a reason, and a glance at the list of players available to head coach Pape Thiaw illustrates why they are so highly-regarded. Among his big names are Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye, Villarreal's Pape Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham, Crystal Palace striker Ismaila Sarr and Chelsea counterpart Nicolas Jackson.
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Kasey McAteer marked his first start for the Irish by giving them the lead in the first half but Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr struck with nine minutes remaining as it finished honours even. Hallgrimsson, though, took heart from how his side carried out his vision to largely stifle a Senegal side who are now 21 matches unbeaten and ranked 19th in the FIFA world rankings. A strong performance from the boys but tonight's friendly ends in a draw 🤝 — Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 6, 2025 That is 41 places higher than the Republic's current position, having been as high as 28th in October 2019, but Hallgrimsson senses this is a side on the up after making it three games without a defeat. 'There were times where we defended without the ball, we made them look quite average,' Hallgrimsson said. 'But I'm mostly happy that they didn't create a lot of goalscoring chances. 'Let's be honest, we're not one of the best teams in the world and this is how we need to play against teams that will dominate possession. 'We need to wait for our chances and take them when they come. In this area, confidence is growing. 'We will need to be patient, these steps are taken small steps at a time but this was really pleasing because if we wouldn't have done this as well as we did, we would have suffered against this team.' The Republic travel to Luxembourg on Tuesday in their final outing before beginning their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, with Portugal, Hungry and Armenia their opponents. Hallgrimsson was especially pleased with the display of Leicester's McAteer, who scored his first goal for the Irish in the 21st minute when firing in the rebound after his initial header had been kept out. 'If you've watched Kasey, he got a run for Leicester at the end of the season so you can see his club progress and he brought that into the national team,' Hallgrimsson said. 'That's always the answer you would like to have when you try out new players. 'It was a really good first start for him. He's a confident player on the ball, he has speed, good dribbling technique and if we can isolate him going one v one, that is his strength. 'He's just a clever footballer with a good football brain; he knows where to pass the ball and not to pass the ball, etc.' A Senegal side without star names such as Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly levelled from close range through Sarr, with Hallgrimsson lamenting the absence of VAR as he felt the FA Cup winner was offside. 'VAR probably would have given it offside but we knew VAR was not in-house so we cannot complain,' the Icelander added. 'I think the referees did a good job, there was a really good flow in the game, so I was happy.'
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Kasey McAteer marked his first start for the Irish by giving them the lead in the first half but Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr struck with nine minutes remaining as it finished honours even. Hallgrimsson, though, took heart from how his side carried out his vision to largely stifle a Senegal side who are now 21 matches unbeaten and ranked 19th in the FIFA world rankings. A strong performance from the boys but tonight's friendly ends in a draw 🤝 — Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 6, 2025 That is 41 places higher than the Republic's current position, having been as high as 28th in October 2019, but Hallgrimsson senses this is a side on the up after making it three games without a defeat. 'There were times where we defended without the ball, we made them look quite average,' Hallgrimsson said. 'But I'm mostly happy that they didn't create a lot of goalscoring chances. 'Let's be honest, we're not one of the best teams in the world and this is how we need to play against teams that will dominate possession. 'We need to wait for our chances and take them when they come. In this area, confidence is growing. 'We will need to be patient, these steps are taken small steps at a time but this was really pleasing because if we wouldn't have done this as well as we did, we would have suffered against this team.' The Republic travel to Luxembourg on Tuesday in their final outing before beginning their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, with Portugal, Hungry and Armenia their opponents. Hallgrimsson was especially pleased with the display of Leicester's McAteer, who scored his first goal for the Irish in the 21st minute when firing in the rebound after his initial header had been kept out. 'If you've watched Kasey, he got a run for Leicester at the end of the season so you can see his club progress and he brought that into the national team,' Hallgrimsson said. 'That's always the answer you would like to have when you try out new players. 'It was a really good first start for him. He's a confident player on the ball, he has speed, good dribbling technique and if we can isolate him going one v one, that is his strength. 'He's just a clever footballer with a good football brain; he knows where to pass the ball and not to pass the ball, etc.' A Senegal side without star names such as Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly levelled from close range through Sarr, with Hallgrimsson lamenting the absence of VAR as he felt the FA Cup winner was offside. 'VAR probably would have given it offside but we knew VAR was not in-house so we cannot complain,' the Icelander added. 'I think the referees did a good job, there was a really good flow in the game, so I was happy.'
