Daniel McDonnell: Breaking down every position for Ireland and Heimir Hallgrimsson's possible starting team for World Cup qualifiers
The long wait for a seriously meaningful Irish international fixture is nearing an end.
Uefa's decision to elongate the Nations League schedule and cram the regular qualifying windows means that nations who missed out on Euro 2024 have been enduring a distinctly low-key period.
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The 42
3 hours ago
- The 42
'Stephen brought a lot of the lads through... Heimir has a different sort of tactic'
WILL SMALLBONE has hailed the impact of manager Heimir Hallgrímsson after Ireland drew 1-1 tonight with Senegal — a team 41 places above the Boys in Green in the world rankings and unbeaten in 20 matches heading into the game. Injuries have meant it is only the second time Smallbone has featured in a camp since the Icelandic coach took charge. And while the hosts were disappointed at the concession of an 82nd-minute equaliser, the Southampton star felt the game was 'another step in the right direction' following back-to-back Nations League playoff wins over Bulgaria in March. 'I think sometimes these summer camps have been a bit of a struggle where we've had a long time off and we've been coming in and trying to get up to speed,' Smallbone said. Advertisement 'I've noticed a real high quality and high intensity throughout the whole week, and it's been showing in the performance there.' While he has not had too many opportunities to link up with the squad in the last few months, Smallbone has been impressed with Hallgrímsson as a coach. 'Throughout the week, the manager has made it really clear what he wants from people, and it's just getting back in the swing of things and being in an Irish set-up. I love coming away to play for Ireland, I couldn't wait to get away and see everyone and get back in it and build connections with everyone.' Smallbone played alongside Jason Knight in central midfield and said the position was not 'too different' to what he has been accustomed to recently, despite sometimes being employed in a more attacking role for club and country. 'I was only in Heimir's first camp so that was very new for everyone so I missed the next three camps, so to then come back in, it was very similar messages. But it all seems very clear and concise — that makes it easier as a player when you know exactly what the manager wants from you and you just have to go out and do your best to deliver it. 'The lads have done really well over the last few camps, it's good to see us winning games. Performances have been really nice, and maybe in the past we've got good performances, but we need to make sure we're winning to get to these tournaments. 'I think he wants to create a winning habit, and you see the way he talks about getting to the World Cup, it's obviously the aim for everyone. Winning is the only way we can get there. So it is about coming out on top in games in the past we maybe would have lost by a goal to switch it the other way to win by a goal and put an emphasis on set-pieces and making sure we're a threat whenever we get one.' Smallbone also admitted it felt 'different' to the reign of Stephen Kenny, who gave the midfielder his senior debut in 2023. 'Stephen brought a lot of the lads through from 21s, and Heimir has a different sort of tactic if you like. I think if you look at Irish teams in the past, they've always been built very big on set-pieces and making the Aviva a really tough place to come to, so I think that's what we've to get back to. 'The goal for every game is to win, at times performances were… I don't want to say performances have been good, but winning has not been there. So the main thing is just winning. 'The more I play football, the more I go into my career and see that winning is what gets remembered, it's what ultimately is going to get us to the World Cup. I think if the game is scrappy and it's a one-goal game, we need to make sure it's us that gets the goal, and as long as we're in games with however long left, we'll always feel we'll get an opportunity to get a goal from set-pieces.'
The 42
3 hours ago
- The 42
Clear signs that Hallgrímsson's messages are coming through loud and clear for Ireland players
THE FOCUS IN training and in the various tactical meetings with players this week has centred on two primary elements of a concise gameplan. The first was being quicker and more proactive with the good stuff that Ireland managed against Bulgaria over two legs of the successful Nations League promotion/relegation play-off in March. There may have been five changes to the starting XI from the 2-1 win in Dublin, but that didn't mean a shift or change in direction from the manager. The message came through loud and clear to be sharp and aggressive out of possession while also doing the same around the final third once they had the chance to sustain pressure. It's why, for example, you would have seen Dara O'Shea sprint from his slot on the left side of defence and follow Abdallah Sima into Senegal's half when the forward was hesitant with the ball at his feet and back to play. O'Shea had the licence to be that aggressive and quick with his closing down rather than simply passing the man on to someone in midfield who might not have had the same momentum in their stride to keep Senegal going backwards. That level of freedom for players in the moment to assess such a situation and take on the responsibility is another cornerstone of what Ireland are trying to achieve under Heimir Hallgrímsson. It was evident again two minutes after the re-start when Jason Knight anticipated a breaking ball around 35 or so yards from the opponents' goal and straight away zipped a pass to Will Smallbone so his fellow midfielder. Advertisement He let the ball run across his body, took one more touch to set himself for a shot centrally but directed it far too close to Yehvann Diouf and that allowed the goalkeeper make a comfortable save. Still, it was sharp and positive and done with purpose; exactly what management asked of the players. By that stage, of course, Ireland led after Kasey McAteer's 21st minute goal. It was his first for the Boys in Green, coming on the occasion of his fifth cap and full debut. Friendly fire, perhaps, but if it can act as a catalyst for the Leicester City winger to make a telling impact in the World Cup qualifiers to come from September through November than it will be recalled as a pivotal moment. Again, he showed anticipation and impressive instincts to get his goal, staying on the move after Ryan Manning – excellent all evening in an advanced central role and also on the left when required – kept the corner kick alive to connect with a deft header, and following up Diouf's superb save with a calm touch and sharp swivel to fire low through the legs of Abdoulaye Seck. Nathan Collins wins a header against Boulaye Dia. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Just as encouraging as that telling impact in the box was a piece of defending seven minutes before half-time that was the second element of the gameplan: stop Senegal's counter attacks. That was the second message repeated around camp all week, and when Habib Diarra looked as though he was about to break free down the left, McAteer's willingness to sprint back and nick possession drew applause around Aviva Stadium. Most pleased would have been Hallgrímsson and assistant John O'Shea as well as coach Paddy McCarthy. There were three more clear examples of Ireland players ensuring they followed the doctrine laid out. Captain Nathan Collins led by example in the ninth minute when Manning looked to have been bundled over down the left after receiving a throw in, play was waved on and with the Brentford centre back advanced to try and get on the end of a ball into the box, he ended up sprinting 40 or so yards back to stop Senegal making it out of their own half. Job done. Nine minutes later Knight and Smallbone also combined with pressure to hurry Krepin Diatta into a misplace pass from the centre when there was a break on down the left and numbers supporting centrally. Best of all, and perhaps the strongest nod yet to Hallgrímsson finding out who among his squad have the capability of being that 'bastard in the team' that he spoke of when he took charge, came on 56 minutes. After Senegal cleared an Ireland corner, Knight picked up the ball around 40 yards out and adhered to the crowd's roars of 'shooooooooot.' It was blocked down, and all of a sudden space opened up for Diatta to take the ball clear. Killian Phillips made his Ireland debut. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO He was still only midway through his own half but before he could open his legs and get into his stride Collins clattered in from behind with a type of organised clumsiness that prevented the counter. He was thoroughly apologetic for the incident, hands in the air straight away, but he knew exactly what he was doing and it was exactly what was required in that moment, and what was expected. That the Senegal equaliser on 82 minutes came after a raft of subs had been made won't soften the blow for Hallgrímsson. It would no doubt have been disallowed for offside after a VAR review had this game been one of consequence, but it was not in use so Cheikh Sabaly standing in Caoimhín Kelleher's eye line went unpunished. It undone so much good work in terms of the result but, crucially, it was a performance that highlighted how Hallgrímsson's messages are coming through loud and clear with World Cup qualifying on the horizon.
The 42
3 hours ago
- The 42
'This is a world class team and there were times when we made them look quite average'
HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON PRAISED his Irish players as he saw further progress in a 1-1 friendly draw against Senegal in Dublin. Ireland led at half-time through Kasey McAteer's goal, but were denied a win by Ismalia Sarr's late equaliser. 'Our collective defence was good', said the Irish manager. 'We must recognise this is a world class team, unbeaten now in 21 games, 19 in the Fifa rankings. And there were times when we were defending without the ball we made them look quite average. We are happy they didn't create too many goalscoring chances. Caoimh made one or two good saves but apart from that he didn't need to do much, that is pleasing. 'We needed to start on this, working on a shape that is now looking quite good. There are still a few areas, we have talked about needing to do some movements quicker, within the structure. 'To be able to play against such a strong attacking team, with so much individual quality, and not concede a lot of goalscoring chances.' Advertisement Hallgrimsson pointed to the low levels of confidence among his players when he first took the job, but says now they are climbing. 'I think it is growing', said Hallgrimsson when asked about confidence levels. 'The decisions at this level need to be quick. You need to be quick deciding what to do and act quickly. If you are too late you are always punished at this level. What I said about defence, being in structure, closing spaces: these things need to happen quicker. 'Once we repeat these things again and again it just gets it ahead and we showed that against a really good side again. We limited their chances of creating things against us and, let's be honest, we are not one of the best teams in the world, and this is how we need to play against teams that will dominate possession. 'And we need to wait for our chances and take them when they come. So in this situation confidence is growing and it is a similar setup in September, playing the stronger team at home and then flying away to Luxembourg, like Hungary at home and then away to Armenia. So it is good preparation for September. So that is confidence for me, to be able to play good teams without possession and doing that for longer periods of time. But again, conceding goals from crosses too many times and in this case we were too passive in the cross. We didn't attack the ball when the cross came and it has happened before. That is a slight confidence thing.' Hallgrimsson meanwhile praised his goalscorer Kasey McAteer, who showed Ireland have further depth among their right-sided attackers by scoring on his full Irish debut. ''If you have watched Kasey he has got a run for Leicester at the end of the season so you can see his progress in his club and he brought that now into the national team', said Hallgrimsson. 'That is always the answer you would like to have when you try out new players. 'It was his first start for Ireland, so a really good first start for him. No, he is a confident player on the ball. He has speed, good dribbling technique and if we can isolate him one-on-one that is his strength. 'He is just a clever footballer with a good footballing brain. Knows where to pass the ball etc.' The Irish boss was sanguine too about the lack of VAR, which would likely have inspected and potentially disallowed the Senegal goal for an offside. Cheikh Sabaly stood in an offisde position occluding Kelleher's view of a shot which the Irish goalkeeper saved brilliantly before Ismalia Sarr forced the rebound over the line. 'VAR probably would have given it offside, but we knew VAR was not in house and we cannot complain. The referees did a really good job today, they had a really good flow to the game. I was really happy with the referees.'
