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Ireland legend ‘not as confident as Heimir Hallgrimsson' about World Cup chances but admits ‘I like his attitude'
Ireland legend ‘not as confident as Heimir Hallgrimsson' about World Cup chances but admits ‘I like his attitude'

The Irish Sun

time15 hours ago

  • General
  • The Irish Sun

Ireland legend ‘not as confident as Heimir Hallgrimsson' about World Cup chances but admits ‘I like his attitude'

KEVIN KILBANE admitted he is "not as confident as Heimir Hallgrimsson" when it comes to Ireland's chances of qualifying for the World Cup. The Boys in Green get their qualification campaign underway at home to Advertisement 2 Heimir Hallgrimsson has been bullish about Ireland's chances of qualifying for the World Cup Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile 2 Kevin Kilbane revealed why he is not as confident Credit: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile That will be followed by fixtures home and away against And while the Icelander has been next year. He told SunSport via : : "I'm not as confident as Heimir Halgrimsson and that's simply because of what's happened in the last couple of years. Advertisement Read More on Ireland MNT "We're all a little bit probably tarnished from what's happened during the last five or six campaigns . You can't get away from that." They missed out on a place at Ireland won just two of eight games in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar . Advertisement Most read in Football Kenny's men won the same number of games in the And Kilbane added: "We all support the team and we all want the best for them but we're all realistic with what we've been watching and we've seen leads slip against sides that we shouldn't be letting leads slip against. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict "We've not been putting in good performance against sides that we should have been putting better performances in, particularly at home." While the 48-year-old is skeptical that Ireland can get to the 2026 World Cup, he admires Hallgrimsson's outlook nonetheless. Advertisement He was co-coach of Since succeeding summer , Ireland have won exactly half of Hallgrimsson's eight games in charge. There is a renewed optimism after their two-legged win over Bulgaria in the Automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup goes to the side that finishes top of the four team group. Advertisement Meanwhile, the 12 runners-up and the four best-ranked group winners from the Nations League outside those top two positions will go into the play-offs next March. Former star Kilbane continued: "I like what he's been saying and I like that he's got a clear message and I think it's internal as well as external. "If you don't have that attitude, you're not going to qualify. "I like what he's done and I honestly think that the shortened qualification will help us because qualification for us is probably going to be over by March next year. Advertisement "We want to be playing in those big games and I think that every window coming in, now that we know we've got to start well, if we start well and hopefully we do that, the next window is ramped up again. "We could be done after two windows, we know that, but equally, if we get it right in that first window, we've got a chance and we have to believe that. "I do think that there is a chance. but I, like everybody else, every other Irish supporter, is scarred by what's happened recently in the last so many campaigns ." GAME TIME The club campaign has been a mixed one for Irish players. Advertisement Jake O'Brien had a breakthrough 2025 with Everton. Meanwhile, strikers On the flipside, however, Meanwhile, Advertisement In all, 19 Irish players clocked up 18,445 minutes of football in Europe 's top five leagues, an average of 972 per player, equating to fewer than 11 full matches. That statistic is likely to be inflated in 2025/26 by And game time at the highest level is Kevin Kilbane's biggest concern. He said: "The nucleus of our side is lower half Premier League/top half Championship and that's where we are. Advertisement "I think the most important thing for our players is game time and that's the only thing that every single player wants. "We're in this boat where our players are not playing regular enough at the top level and that's where we are but the ones that we have, we've got to build our side around those players. "We've got enough quality and I know that we've got enough quality but it's about game time for them all." Find the latest and get the 18+ GambleAware Advertisement

Kelleher's Brentford move 'will benefit' Republic of Ireland
Kelleher's Brentford move 'will benefit' Republic of Ireland

BBC News

timea day ago

  • Business
  • BBC News

Kelleher's Brentford move 'will benefit' Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland assistant John O'Shea believes Caoimhin Kelleher's move to Brentford "will benefit" Heimir Hallgrimsson's move from Premier League champions Liverpool to the Bees on a five-year deal for an initial £12.5m, which could rise to £18m with add-ons, was confirmed on 26-year-old made 67 appearances for the Reds, but O'Shea believes becoming the number one at Brentford will aid his progress on the international stage."He has had success and whatever happens next, hopefully he's playing. It's as simple as that," O'Shea said."Obviously it's not an easy thing for him to do. He's proven the quality that he has every time he's been asked to go in as the number one for Liverpool."I think that's what the whole of Europe and the whole of the world has seen when Caoimhin has been in goal for Liverpool. So, I'm sure we'll get the benefit of it."O'Shea was speaking ahead of the Republic's friendly against Senegal in Dublin on hopes other Irish players will follow Kelleher in making summer switches to get more game time, if the right move arises. "Every scenario will be different. Like the manager [Hallgrimsson] has always stressed, we'd love our players to be playing," O'Shea, added."That's what you want in a team because obviously time-wise, when we get together, the limited time period we have, the fitter the players are, the better it will help in the game."

‘He didn't say f**k off': Heimir Hallgrímsson hopeful Liam Delap may represent Ireland
‘He didn't say f**k off': Heimir Hallgrímsson hopeful Liam Delap may represent Ireland

Irish Times

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • Irish Times

‘He didn't say f**k off': Heimir Hallgrímsson hopeful Liam Delap may represent Ireland

Heimir Hallgrímsson recently met Liam Delap to gauge whether the England under-21 striker would be interested in declaring for the Republic of Ireland . Delap's father Rory, who won 11 caps for Ireland between 1998 and 2004, and Hallgrímsson's assistant coach John O'Shea were also present. After scoring 12 goals in the Premier League for relegated Ipswich Town, Delap was named in England under-21's squad by manager Lee Carsley, along with the Dublin-born Dennis Cirkin, for the upcoming European Championships in Slovakia. 'We have sat with him,' said Hallgrímsson. 'Just told him we would love to have him in our camp. But his focus is the [England] under-21s at the moment. What will happen after that we will have to wait and see.' READ MORE Any interest at all? 'Well, he didn't say f**k off,' the Icelander replied. Rory Delap just won the Hungarian league title at Ferencváros as Robbie Keane 's assistant coach. The younger Delap has made 12 appearances for the England under-21s, scoring three goals, so if he lines out in the defending champions opening group match against the Czech Republic on June 12th, the FAI will need to apply to Fifa for a change in nationality. In February, the association appointed Aidan Price, the former Shamrock Rovers academy director, as their head of talent identification and recruitment, with the aim of convincing players such as Delap and Cirkin to declare for Ireland. The Athletic is reporting that Delap intends to join Chelsea this summer, if Ipswich's £30 million (€26.4 million) release clause is met, despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United, Everton, Nottingham Forest, AC Milan and Juventus. Liam Delap is being chased by lots of clubs who want to lure him away from Ipswich Town. Photograph:Cirkin would be a more complicated process for the FAI as he was born in Ireland to Latvian parents before moving to England at three years old. 'We want the best players available, always playing for us,' Hallgrímsson continued. 'It is up to him. These questions you need to ask the player himself, not me. We always want the best players.' In the meantime, the Ireland manager is focused on working with his available strikers, Evan Ferguson, Troy Parrott and Adam Idah, before friendlies against Senegal at the Aviva Stadium on June 6th and away to Luxembourg on June 10th. Ferguson impressed Hallgrímsson in recent international camps, when he scored against Bulgaria and Finland, despite the 20-year-old's struggles to command game time in the Premier League with Brighton and on loan to West Ham United. 'I can only judge from the time he's with us,' said Hallgrímsson. 'He's been good for us, he's been efficient for us. At training, he looks good. So, whatever it is, it's something that we cannot control and now we haven't seen him for a long time, so we just want to see him, speak to him and see what's happening and just evaluate where he is.' Séamus Coleman's future in the game as a player remains in doubt after the 36-year-old was forced to pull out of next month's games with an injury he sustained in Everton's last ever match at Goodison Park on May 18th. Everton manager David Moyes confirmed recently that Coleman will remain at the club next season, but it is unclear whether this will be in a playing or coaching capacity. Whatever role Séamus Coleman will have at Everton next season will involve leadership. Photograph: Alex Dodd/CameraSport via Getty Images On whether Coleman will feature in the World Cup qualification campaign, beginning against Hungary and Armenia in September, Hallgrímsson said: 'That's for Séamus to decide, not me.' 'He is a leader in this squad and his experience is one thing, but his quality as a player is another thing as well. He's been playing at the highest level for such a long time, so it's a shame for me and, of course, the national team, not to have him around, but hopefully there will come another time for him, hopefully it will be just the off-season and he'll come back fit and flying. 'I know he's [staying] at Everton in whatever role, maybe a little bit more leadership role, but it's for him to answer if he's going to continue playing or not. It's his decision, but I'm hoping – and I know the Evertonians are hoping – he will continue playing." Hallgrímsson decided not to replace Coleman in a 23-man panel as Matt Doherty, Jake O'Brien, Festy Ebosele and Dara O'Shea can play right back. However, concerns around Sammie Szmodics return from an ankle injury prompted the Irish management to call up Andrew Moran in place of the 29-year-old attacker. Hallgrímsson believes that Chiedozie Ogbene will recover from the Achilles tendon surgery he required in November, to feature against Hungary on September 6th. 'According to him he is going to be the fittest player in preseason, so definitely in September he will be ready for us.' Sadio Mané, the former Liverpool winger, will not travel with the Senegal squad to Dublin next week due to a personal issue. Ireland squad – Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Max O'Leary (Bristol City), Josh Keeley (Leyton Orient, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur). Defenders: Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Andrew Omobamidele (Strasbourg, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Liam Scales (Celtic), Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Festy Ebosele (Istanbul Basaksehir), Ryan Manning (Southampton). Midfielders: Jason Knight (Bristol City), Killian Phillips (St Mirren, on loan from Crystal Palace), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), John Joe Patrick Finn (Stade de Reims), Andrew Moran (Stoke City, on loan from Brighton). Forwards: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Evan Ferguson (West Ham United, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Celtic), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City).

Heimir Hallgrimsson keen for Seamus Coleman to continue international career
Heimir Hallgrimsson keen for Seamus Coleman to continue international career

BreakingNews.ie

time7 days ago

  • General
  • BreakingNews.ie

Heimir Hallgrimsson keen for Seamus Coleman to continue international career

Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson is desperate to retain Seamus Coleman's experience as he plots a way through the upcoming World Cup qualification campaign. The 36-year-old Everton defender has been a mainstay for successive Ireland managers during a senior international career which currently spans more than 14 years, and Hallgrimsson is keeping his fingers crossed that one of his most influential players is still around when Hungary head for Dublin in September for the opening qualifier. Advertisement Coleman has been forced to withdraw from the squad for next week's friendly against Senegal and the trip to Luxembourg which follows it because of a thigh injury, but the Icelander is keen to retain what he offers both on and off the pitch in the longer term. MNT SQUAD CONFIRMED 🇮🇪 Seamus Coleman and Sammie Szmodics have withdrawn from the squad through injury 🔁 Andrew Moran comes into the squad to face Senegal and Luxembourg with the squad set to report on Sunday, June 1 👏 06/06 | 🇮🇪🆚🇸🇳 10/06 | 🇱🇺🆚🇮🇪 — Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) May 29, 2025 Hallgrimsson said: 'He is a leader in this squad and you cannot have his experience in many players. His experience, his leadership skills are one thing, but his quality as a player is another thing as well. 'He's been playing at the highest level for such a long time, so it's a shame for me – and, of course the national team – not to have him around. But hopefully there will come another time for him, hopefully it will be just the off-season and he'll come fit and flying. 'I know he's going to be at Everton in whatever role, maybe a little bit more leadership role, but it's for him to answer if he's going to continue playing or not. Advertisement 'It's his decision, but I'm hoping – and I know the Evertonians are hoping – he will continue playing.' Sammie Szmodics has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad through injury (Bradley Collyer/PA) Asked if there was a possibility that Coleman might announce his retirement from international football in the meantime, Hallgrimsson said: 'That's for him to decide, not me.' The Ireland boss, who has not called up the majority of his Sky Bet Championship players for this camp because of the length of time since the end of their regular season, will also have to do without Ipswich's Sammie Szmodics for the double-header after he suffered a reaction while recovering from ankle surgery. Hallgrimsson said: 'We knew that he was injured, we were hopeful that he would be ready. He played, I think, 10, 15 minutes in the last game for Ipswich, but the ankle got swollen afterwards, so we decided it's not worth the risk to have him in our squad now. Advertisement 'Hopefully he will have a good pre-season and come in flying in September.' Brighton midfielder Andrew Moran, who spent last season on loan at Stoke, has been drafted into the squad as cover. Had Ireland been drawn into a five-team group rather than a four, they would have been playing qualifiers instead of friendlies next month, and Hallgrimsson admits he is happy about that. He said: 'The June window has not been successful for Ireland in the past, it's been a tricky window, not playing for a month and then coming in to the national team camp for a game that's maybe on a higher level than you play on a regular basis. Advertisement 'You are never 100 per cent physically fit or mentally focused after a holiday period, so yes, I am happy we are not playing World Cup group stage at this time.'

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