Latest news with #HEIMIRHALLGRÍMSSON
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Heimir Hallgrimsson says Republic of Ireland must raise standards in World Cup qualifiers after flat Luxembourg display
HEIMIR HALLGRÍMSSON has warned his players there can be no more sloppy seconds. Ireland impressed on 2 Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson was not happy. after the poor draw in Luxembourg 2 The Ireland boss says standards must improve before the World Cup qualifiers later this year His side will begin their And '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. "All the good things we did against Senegal were missing, all the quick movement, the press, the ball speed - so sloppy. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL 'We were so different from all the things we want to represent. We lost duels, we lost ball, our rotations were slow, our pressing was more individual than collective. 'It was not tactical, I think it was just focus. We were not doing the things we did four days ago. 'We changed in the second half, we had more tempo, and won more duels. 'But it was not good enough. We always like answers to questions and this one is a negative one, so we at least know that. Most read in Football We can take a lot of things into account, mostly psychological and mental, we know it's the end of the season and going in the off-season the players are probably thinking 'I don't want to get injured'. 'But there is no excuse. We made Luxembourg look like a really good team. They are a good team but we made them look even better. 'Don't say that on camera' - Nathan Collins' admission about Caoimhin Kelleher's move leaves Heimir in stitches "We go in September and play the higher ranked team first, like we did now, and then the lower ranked team away. "So this is definitely something that we can learn from. We must play the same way against everyone. 'Whether it's a friendly at the end of season or a group stage game, we need to play the same way all the time. "I think this game will just teach us a lesson. "We had some chances but still even if we won the game we wouldn't be happy with the performance. We must look at the performance first.' He said: 'We are the ones giving him playing time so he should be happy to get games. 'We all know what he can do and hopefully he starts the new season well. That would be a big plus for us. It's difficult to demand something from someone who hasn't had game time. 'He's been really sharp in training but he was probably tired at the end. We wanted him to play 90 minutes but we didn't want him to get injured.' There was one positive with Max O'Leary keeping a clean sheet on his debut, six years after he was first called into the squad. He said: 'He has always shown up and supported the keeper who has been no 1 who has been Caoimhín Kelleher since I came in and Gavin Bazunu before. 'He's just a fantastic team player but also a good goalkeeper and the fans got to see that.'
The 42
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Hallgrímsson wants to take Ireland on the one road to promised land of World Cup
HEIMIR HALLGRÍMSSON HAS enjoyed somewhat of a nomadic existence as Republic of Ireland manager so far. In just under a year in charge he has become accustomed to arranging various short-term stays in various locations around Dublin. Life in the Castleknock Hotel was a short-term necessity, so too a period by the sea in Malahide. When a suitable rental properly couldn't be tied down, Hallgrímsson has needed to be a regular on Airbnb to arrange digs in one and two-week blocks. So, it stands to reason that he would continue his travels around the country. A visit to Derry recently came at a time when he also met up with his predecessor, Stephen Kenny, and Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley. Josh Honohan's inclusion – one of four players set to earn their first senior cap – is an indication of the manager's willingness to assess League of Ireland talent with a ceiling of potential yet to be reached. 'We want to see him in our environment with these players which is mostly Premier League players. Normally good players can step up when they are with better players,' Hallgrímsson said. He will continue his travels over the next few days, attending training sessions at both Cork City and Cobh Ramblers. 'And learning a bit about the people there, which they say are a little bit different? Going down to the south capital,' he said, smiling. 'I'm just trying to learn and, at the same time, I think it's respect. If I have time, I should invest it in doing this.' July, he says, will be a 'rest month' but the plan will also be to visit other parts of the country to continue to get a sense of the dynamic on the ground. 'I'm trying my best to understand the culture, football culture.' Elements of the grassroots game are fractured, as has been detailed ahead of the planned aligned calendar season coming into effect from January 2026. Advertisement 'I come from Iceland, I don't come from a really different environment. It's like there, there's kings everywhere. The king of the grass pitch, the king of the facilities etc. It's not so different from back home. It's a lot of volunteer work that drives these clubs. In a sense, it's similar. 'I mean, the groundskeeper was, he owned, he felt like he owned it. That comes with volunteer work. You get the respect that this is mine. That is here, whatever it is. It's just fantastic to see so much volunteer work in clubs. That drives passion in my opinion.' Success can also prove unifying. 'Without a doubt. I don't know how it is here, I thought it was brilliant how they did it in Iceland, before qualifying [for the World Cup], they said if we qualify, this amount of money will come into football in Iceland. One third goes to the clubs. One third goes to the federation. One third goes to the bonuses and stuff for players and staff and all of that. 'Beforehand everybody was really cheering on because there was benefits to everyone if we were successful. I think it goes hand in hand and I've said it again and again, if the League of Ireland does well, it helps the national team. If the national team does well, I think it helps the League of Ireland and football in Ireland and that is how it should be.' Hallgrímsson's tour of the country is not just a vacuous charm offensive. He knows that what happens on the pitch will ultimately dictate the mood, and his likelihood of earning a contact beyond the World Cup qualifiers. 'We all know this is a game of results. We all know that. But we plan to go to the World Cup, end of story. We're not even thinking something else. 'I know there hasn't been a lot of confidence in the team but we feel that is growing and our last camp was probably the best one in that we felt it before the game started that there was belief, confidence and energy in the squad, and long may that continue.' Chiedozie Ogbene's return to fitness aby the time the qualifying campaign kicks off at home to Hungary on 6 September could be a welcome boost. He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon last October and missed most of this Premier League season with Ipswich. Hallgrímsson spoke to him last week and revealed the Cork man is back running and aims to be involved for the start of pre-season. 'I think he is going to be really ready when it comes to pre-season. Hopefully we will have everyone ready for September and no serious injuries. He's such an amazing person, always smiling, happy and optimistic. 'With an injury like this you always need to see more positives. It's easy to get dragged down mentally but he's an optimistic person in general. 'It's always nice to call him. He's in a good moment.' The club futures of a number of his likely starting XI will also be determined in the coming weeks. Caoimhin Kelleher is almost certain to leave Liverpool while Hallgrímsson believes Dara O'Shea has proven himself to be a player of Premier League calibre despite Ipswich's relegation. 'Ipswich going down shouldn't affect him. He's established himself as a good Premier League centre-back. Others have been in and out, so I don't know. It's always an individual thing. 'I don't expect anything,' Hallgrimsson said of a potential move. 'Coaches and teams will be interested in players who are that consistent, never injured and played every minute. I wouldn't be surprised if teams feel, yeah, this is an established centre-back.' There is, of course, also uncertainty around Evan Ferguson's club future. He will return to Brighton once his disappointing loan spell at West Ham United concludes at the end of this month. It means the games against Senegal at Aviva Stadium on 6 June and the trip to Luxembourg four days later will offer the young striker a chance to end the season on a high before Ireland's, and Hallgrímsson's, focus sharpens on a quick-fire qualifying campaign that will be done and dusted against Hungary, Portugal and Armenia between 6 September and 16 November. 'I don't think differently. I plan for success. If you plan for success then you shouldn't talk differently,' Hallgrímsson said. 'I hope I'm not offending anyone but this is how we should all think, we are going there [to the World Cup]. 'Everything can happen of course. We can be unlucky in games, with injuries or whatever but we plan for success. 'I've looked at us and that gives me confidence as well rather than looked at others. I think Hungary, us and even Portugal will share points at some time, so I think it even gives us more chance to progress. 'With Iceland we didn't have the best players, not playing at the highest quality but we qualified. That kind of experience gives me hope because I see a lot of similarities with this squad, even players playing here at the higher level than we had in Iceland. 'I really think we have a good chance if we stick together, we believe and we work as one.' As Hallgrímsson continues to get to grips with the culture here he might just know by now that there is famous song about being on the one road. If it does indeed lead to North America next summer he will have the freedom of every parish in this country.
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Bullish Heimir Hallgrimsson outlines World Cup vision while explaining squad for Senegal & Luxembourg friendlies
HEIMIR HALLGRÍMSSON has said he is already planning for Ireland to be at the World Cup next summer. Hallgrímsson has given all but three Championship players the summer off because he reckons they will not get any downtime in 12 months' time. 2 Hallgrimsson firmly believes his side will end a 20-year wait to qualify for a World Cup 2 Captain Seamus Coleman has been recalled to the squad He said: 'We expect to have no holiday next summer. We expect to go straight from the season into the World Cup in the US so we can give them holidays now.' Shamrock Rovers' Josh Honohan, Killian Phillips - who is on loan to St Mirren from Crystal Palace - and John Joe Patrick Finn of Stade de Reims So too has keeper Josh Keeley, who was called into train when John O'Shea was in interim charge but was not a part of the squad proper. He has spent this season on loan to Leyton Orient from Spurs. Read More On Irish Football Ireland host Senegal on June 6 before playing away to Luxembourg four days later. On Honohan, Hallgrímsson said: 'One of his biggest attributes is his versatility, he can play on the left and the right so he gives flexibility. That's one of his biggest advantages. 'We want to see him in our environment which is mainly Premier League players. Normally good players can step up when they are with better players. 'Josh was on standby last time so it shouldn't be a surprise that he's in the squad.' Most read in Football On the midfield pair, he said: 'Killian I have seen on a couple of occasions. I have gone to St Mirren and seen him. He has an abundance of energy. "He has physicality and height. He's a little bit different from what we have in terms of size and technique. Dream Team Transfer Recommendations for Gameweek 36 'I just wanted to see him and the same goes for John Joe and we wanted to measure him in relation to our other players.' On Keeley, he said: 'He is probably next in line. He's young, he's progressing really fast, he's taking huge steps this season, he's playing in the play-offs and hopefully he can get promoted so he's playing at the next level this season. 'It gives us the option to give Mark Travers an extended off-season. With Gavin Bazunu injured, there was a spot and we wanted to see a younger goalkeeper.' Skipper Hallgrímsson was coy on whether he thought the veteran would retire but said he would not have been called up if he was not part of his plans for the World Cup. Festy Ebosele has been called in for the first time since joining Istanbul Basaksehir with Hallgrímsson hoping he, Sammie Szmodics and Troy Parrott would be fit. PLAYER UPDATES He said: 'Sammie hasn't featured for Ipswich coming back from ankle surgery. He is starting to train but it is unlikely. It is one of the reasons why we have 24 players. 'Troy has been out as well with a groin injury. He is coming back and he's really optimistic he will be good for June. He says he will feature before this camp. 'Festy is coming back slowly so hopefully by June he will be fit and flying. 'Three players haven't had much playing time - Séámus is back, he hasn't really played but wants to come back, Will Smallbone has had limited minutes for Southampton and the same for Evan Ferguson but we really want to see these players in June to see where they're at.' Ferguson's loan move to West Ham from Brighton has not gone according to plan but Hallgrímsson said: 'I am not interfering with the next step. 'All players know they have a better chance of playing for the national team if [playing] on a regular basis and if you're playing well. We don't need to discuss that. "I think he's much more frustrated that he's not playing than me.' Robbie Brady, in talks with Preston North End about a new deal, uncapped keeper Max O'Leary and his Bristol City team-mate Jason Knight. The Robins reached the play-offs meaning they played beyond the regular season with Hallgrímsson explaining why Brady was the exception in the squad. He said: 'The June window has been tough or tricky for Ireland in the past. "I guess the reason is three games a week in the Championship and the players are tired physically and mentally and it is tough to switch back on. 'What we want now most of all is that these players have a good off-season and come in flying in pre-season and September so we will benefit from that. 'I know some will be unhappy not to be in the squad but that is the reason. 'The only exception is Robbie Brady is that he is playing left-back where we don't have a lot of players so we asked him to come in and he was more than happy to do that.' Ireland squad: Kelleher (Liverpool), O'Leary (Bristol City), Keeley (Leyton Orient, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur); Coleman (Everton), Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Collins (Brentford), O'Shea (Ipswich Town), O'Brien (Everton), Omobamidele (Strasbourg, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Scales (Celtic), Brady (Preston North End); Knight (Bristol City), Phillips (St. Mirren, on loan from Crystal Palace), Smallbone (Southampton), Taylor (Ipswich Town), Finn (Stade De Reims); Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Ferguson (West Ham United, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Idah (Celtic), Szmodics (Ipswich Town), McAteer (Leicester City), Ebosele (Istanbul Basaksehir), Manning (Southampton).
