Eamon Dunphy changes tune on Hallgrimsson as he backs Ireland for World Cup play-off ‘if not more' after Senegal draw
EAMON DUNPHY seems to have changed his tune on Heimir Hallgrimsson following Ireland's draw with Senegal.
The
Aviva
Stadium.
2
Ireland drew 1-1 with Senegal
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
2
Eamon Dunphy praised Hallgrimsson
Credit: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE
They had taken the lead through Kasey McAteer before Ismaila Sarr's late equaliser.
It could have been more, with
Eamon Dunphy has been a vocal critic of Hallgrimsson,
But after Friday's draw, he praised the Icelander for making
Ireland
hard to beat against a side ranked 19th in the world.
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"They were easy on the eye, too, and easy to like, producing a display that reminded you of everything we like to pride ourselves on as a
football
nation."
Dunphy singled out midfield pair Will Smallbone and
Jason
Knight for praise, in particular.
star
Smallbone was tidy on the ball while
Bristol
City's Knight demonstrated
energy
and tenacity off of it.
Most read in Football
Dunphy believes Ireland may have found their ideal partnership which he claimed has filled a void that needed filling.
He said: "All this was needed because for the last little while it has become clear that we have an outstanding goalkeeper in Caoimhin Kelleher, several top class defenders, and three outstanding forwards.
Heimir Hallgrimsson gives first call-up to four Ireland players in squad for friendlies vs Senegal and Luxembourg
"But another uncomfortable truth was that we struggled in midfield.
"Not last night because a change in personnel resulted in a change in attitude and a change in performance."
Ireland will face Luxembourg in another friendly
next
Tuesday which will serve as a warm-up before the
The Boys in Green host
That will be followed by games
home and away
against
Results elsewhere on Friday night gave Dunphy promise for the
qualifiers
, with Hungary and Armenia losing to
But Dunphy remains bullish, declaring that Ireland can bag a play-off for a place at the 2026 World Cup - at minimum.
He added: "I'm not shaking with fear at the idea of facing any of those sides.
"There is reason to believe and that faith stems from the gradual progress this team has made and most of all from the growth of our two midfielders, Smallbone and Knight, who know how to press, how to win the ball, how to deny the other team
space
.
So it is not unrealistic to say a World Cup play off is now attainable - if not more.
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