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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘For sure' – Heimir Hallgrimsson explains belief in Ireland's World Cup chances despite alarming trend
HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON believes he can turn water into wine — because he has done it before. With the club football season wrapping up in most countries, the Ireland boss has been able to take stock of the fortunes of his players over the course of the campaign. Advertisement 2 Hallgrimsson maintains Irish players have enough ability to make it to the 2026 World Cup 2 Will Smallbone is one of the eight Irish players to suffer Premier League relegation It does not make for great reading. Earlier this week, That was what LOI academy manager Will Clarke calculated is needed for the national team to be successful, based on studying the next ten best-performing countries after powerhouses England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. There are 16 spots available for European countries at the World Cup finals next summer and Hallgrimsson believes he can mould his meagre resources into a side that can be one of them. Advertisement Read More On Irish Football Hallgrimsson — who steered his native Iceland to Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup — said: 'Yes, I think we have the material to qualify, for sure. 'From experience, I have qualified with less talent than we have here. So that's my take on this question. Obviously, we would like more players to play at a higher level. 'And I think more players will play at a higher level. They're still not peaking in age and all of that. So I'm pretty confident that we will have more players playing more minutes in the top leagues.' If that is to happen, it will have to be through the transfer market. Advertisement Most read in Football Half of the 16 Irish players who featured in the English Premier League this season suffered relegation, with just Josh Cullen and Alan Browne winning promotion to the top flight. But Hallgrimsson is unconcerned and believes many of the players with sides which dropped down to the Championship had strong individual campaigns. AC Milan sack manager Sergio Conceicao with 25-second VIDEO as brief statement is released He said: 'I think the players that got promoted, the likes of Josh Cullen will play more or less all the minutes for Burnley in the Prem. 'I think as well, the players who were in the teams that got relegated, it was not the players that were that bad, and some of the players were injured, like the likes of Sammie Szmodics. When he played, he played really well. Advertisement 'Dara O'Shea played really well, Ryan Manning played well when he was playing for Southampton. 'So it's not the players, Kasey McAteer is playing every minute now. So the quality is there for sure.' Hallgrimsson had previously suggested that defender O'Shea would not be short of options after catching the eye for Ipswich. And he added: 'I think the teams going up will always recruit the most because they will always try to strengthen their squad. Advertisement 'And just looking back to Nottingham Forest when they got promoted, they bought two times, three times a squad. "So it will always be as well that some players will go to clubs and there are better players at that club. 'The general answer would be we like to have players playing at the highest level, but I would rather have players playing than be on the bench at the highest level. That's the diplomatic answer.' FIRE IN THE FRIENDLIES The friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg will be an opportunity to shine for players who have had frustrating campaigns, such as Will Smallbone and Evan Ferguson, or have revitalised themselves with a loan move, as Andrew Omobamidele Advertisement Hallgrimsson said: 'That's one of the reasons why we need to have camps where we can give players a chance to prove a point for us. "Obviously, because of injuries and then not having the playing time, Will hasn't kind of had the chance to show us what he can do. 'So that's why it's good to have a camp like this and give these players, the Andrews, the Wills, the chance to prove a point. 'Evan as well, normally when we have called him in, he has done pretty good for us. So we know the quality is there, but they haven't been given the platform to show it.' Advertisement Ferguson's loan move to West Ham was not successful in the way Omobamidele's has been, with game time no easier to come by for the 20-year-old forward than it had been at Brighton. It begs the question whether he is simply a victim of circumstances or if he was doing something — or not doing something — to contribute to his woes. Hallgrimsson said: 'I can only judge from the time he's with us. He's been good for us, he's been efficient for us. In training, he looks good. 'So, whatever it is, it's something 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 just evaluate where he is.' Advertisement JUNE BREAK Given the various trials and tribulations at club level — but most of all because of the long gap since the Championship season ended — Hallgrimsson is relieved Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign is not starting in this window. There would have qualifiers in June had they been drawn in a five-team group instead of one with four. He said: 'It would have been tough having a similar squad to Bulgaria when we played them, to have a lot of players who finished a month ago, keeping them fit for an important game. 'We couldn't have done what we did, given them an extended holiday and off-season so they will be fit in September, so they will be rested when it comes to the new season, these guys we left out now. Advertisement 'And that's because 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 into the national team camp for a game that's maybe on a higher level than you play on a regular basis. "You are never 100 per cent physically fit or mentally focused after a holiday period.' With Szmodics ruled out, Hallgrimsson has called in another player who spent the season in the Championship, Andy Moran, who was on loan to Stoke City from Brighton. One of the others, Robbie Brady, is the only player to have been involved when Ireland last competed at a tournament, at Euro 2016, with Hallgrimsson keen to keep drawing on his experience. Advertisement He added: 'I can only say from my experience, once you have smelled it, you know how big it is and you want to go again and again and again. 'They know that and we need them to spread that around the young players, just how massive it is and how fun it is — these are the moments you remember when you stop playing. 'To share that experience is so important. I have spoken about Robbie, how good he has been since I came in. "In the absence of Séamus Coleman, him and Matt Doherty have needed to step up in the leadership role.' Advertisement
Irish Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Recruiting talent from Ireland's diaspora the key to progress
For 14 years I had two weeks' holidays, always in late June, squeezed in between commitments to club and country. The lack of recovery time has a lot to do with the serious back issues I've suffered in my 40s. That and rushing back from surgery. And playing on when my body was screaming for me to stop. It catches up with you. Nowadays, the modern footballer knows how to prepare his or her body for each season. It is more scientific. They know when to rest and when to keep the blood flowing. READ MORE But there is only one way to recover from a 46-game EFL Championship campaign and it has nothing to do with playing June friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg. Allowing Irish players at Championship clubs to take the summer off is sensible management by Heimir Hallgrímsson. I know Burnley and Middlesbrough will benefit from refreshed versions of Josh Cullen and Finn Azaz showing up for preseason in July. A full club season, summer football, into World Cup qualifiers in September, October and November are unsustainable. It's usually around the Christmas glut of games that you are either managing injuries or mentally frazzled. Usually both. Before your head stops spinning, you are back in the Republic of Ireland camp, back in preseason, back grinding away for your club. The years fly by. Instructing the likes of Cullen and Azaz to rest and recuperate gives Hallgrímsson a better chance at fielding the strongest possible line-up when Hungary come to Dublin on September 6th. Ireland cannot afford to lose another opening qualifier or drop points in Armenia three days later. Not if the manager's unwavering belief that we will qualify for North America 2026 is to be proved correct. Josh Cullen of Burnley and Republic of Ireland is set to play in the Premier League next season after his club secured promotion. Photograph: Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images Robbie Brady is a special case having only started 18 matches for Preston North End this season. And he is Ireland's only established left back. And he takes the frees. And he is Robbie Brady. Brady is the very person John Joe Patrick Finn should be rubbing shoulders with next month. We don't know how good Finn is. Like everyone else, I only see snippets of Irish qualified players on social media. The Ireland manager flew to France to meet the 21-year-old and to see if this big defensive midfielder could slot in beside Cullen. 'He's exciting, but is he good enough now for this level?' wondered Hallgrímsson this week. 'We'll have to wait and see.' Irish training sessions used to sort out the men from the boys. There is a line of succession from Jack Charlton's squad to the current group that makes the presence of Brady so important to introducing Finn, a youngster from Madrid with a Mayo Dad, to the standards expected of a Republic of Ireland player. At training. In games. Away from camp. You learn through osmosis how to be an international footballer. My first interaction with the senior players was intimidating. In 1997, Andy Townsend, Tony Cascarino, John Aldridge and Ray Houghton were my heroes. That mindset was quickly dispelled, particularly by Ray demanding the ball. 'I'm not running into the corner lad – give it into feet!' Being exposed to their standards was a steep learning curve. I know there are stories of Ireland camps turning into big drinking sessions. But that first Sunday night, when you'd rush to catch a flight to Dublin, was run out of your legs on the Monday and Tuesday before a Wednesday international. Coming from Preston's first team into a group of legends that played at the World Cup, along with Steve Staunton from Liverpool and Roy Keane at Manchester United, was a shock to the system. Coming from Stade Reims to Ireland could prove a similar experience for Finn. I struggled with the intensity of the sessions. There are exceptions, like a 17-year-old Robbie Keane who was fearless and technically ready. He even nutmegged the gaffer, Mick McCarthy. I remember, years later, Brian Kerr would bring League of Ireland players into camp like the Bohemians goal machine Glen Crowe. I always admired Glen's quality but the pace of training tended to catch out other lads not playing regularly at a higher level. Josh Honohan of Shamrock Rovers should not be intimidated by Republic of Ireland training sessions. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Nowadays, Shamrock Rovers defender Josh Honohan and Finn, coming from Ligue 1, should not be intimidated by the Ireland sessions. They should be up to speed. But they must show they belong. You need to earn the respect of senior internationals in camp before they trust you in a game. Besides Crowe, Staunton and Keane, all the names mentioned above were born in England or Scotland. Recruiting from the diaspora has never been so important to our progress as a football nation, because we lack the numbers, facilities and professional coaching at home. We also lack the spread of club academies to cater for the 16- 18-year-olds blocked by Brexit from moving to a UK club. There are talented second and third generation Irish players dotted across the MLS and North America leagues that I see working for Canadian television. Connecting with a player like Finn, a Spanish-born, French-based professional with Mayo blood should be the next frontier for Irish football. I know the FAI have recruited Aidan Price from Rovers to be their head of talent identification. Besides Heimir, there are few more important roles in Irish football in the years ahead.
Irish Times
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Irish player tracker: Final weekend of EFL action full of joy and pain
It was the final weekend of the EFL season, filled with drama across the board, with plenty of Irish players right in the middle of the action. It was a weekend filled with jubilation, heartbreak, and, in some cases, lingering questions of 'what if?'. Kicking off in the Championship, Saturday delivered a whirlwind of emotions for Irish players caught up in the battles at both ends of the table. Josh Cullen's Burnley were pipped to the title thanks to Leeds scoring a 91st-minute winner against Plymouth. Burnley became the first team in English football to finish on 100 points and not win the league but more importantly, they're heading back to the Premier League. The race for the last two playoff spots was tense from start to finish, with goals flying in across the grounds. On a positive note, Bristol City battled back from 2-0 down against Preston to earn a vital point – enough to secure sixth place – thanks in large part to standout performances from Max O'Leary, Jason Knight and Sinclair Armstrong. Their reward is a playoff showdown with Sheffield United, who did them a favour by holding Blackburn Rovers to a 1-1 draw, keeping the Robins two points clear. READ MORE Sadly, despite the best efforts of Mark Travers and Finn Azaz, Middlesbrough fell to a 2-0 defeat against Coventry City, ending their hopes of reaching the playoffs for another year. Both players impressed and did all they could to spark a comeback, but the hosts proved more clinical in front of goal, leaving Michael Carrick's side facing yet another season in the Championship. Despite entering the final day with a slim chance of making the playoffs, Aidomo Emakhu and his Millwall team-mates faced the daunting task of beating Burnley at Turf Moor. Although they took an early 1-0 lead, the title contenders rallied and came back to defeat the Lions. At the bottom end of the table, Mark McGuinness, Millenic Alli and Luton Town were unfortunately relegated to League One. Despite Alli's impressive brace, Luton fell 5-3, sealing their fate and sending them down. It was a day of celebration for the Irish players at Hull City, Preston, Derby County and Stoke City, who all managed to avoid relegation. A special mention goes to Bosun Iowa, who marked his long-awaited full debut for Stoke City out of position at right wing back and delivered an exceptional performance in such a high-pressure match. In League One, Josh Keeley and Ollie O'Neill capped off a great season by helping Leyton Orient secure a 4-1 victory over Huddersfield Town, clinching a spot in the playoffs. Keeley came into the side in October with the O's struggling in 19th place and seemingly headed for relegation. However, a dramatic 99th-minute equaliser by their goalkeeper in the FA Cup sparked a turnaround for Orient. Now, they'll face Stockport County in the playoffs. It was an emotional rollercoaster for the Irish lads at Bradford City, who sealed their promotion to League One with a dramatic 96th-minute winner. Neill Byrne, Colin Doyle, Ciarán Kelly, Tyreik Wright, Lewis Richards, Calum Kavanagh, and man of the match Tayo Adaramola all played key roles in The Bantams' successful promotion campaign. The Irish contingents at Notts County, Walsall, Wimbledon and Chesterfield are heading to the playoffs. In the Premier League, it was a relatively quiet weekend for Irish players, with Nathan Collins and Jack Taylor standing out. Taylor made his first consecutive top-flight starts, featuring in Ipswich's 2-2 draw with Everton, while Collins was named man of the match in Brentford's impressive win over Nottingham Forest on Thursday night and played a crucial role in Sunday's 4-3 victory over Manchester United. Elsewhere, Adam Idah scored his 19th goal of the season in a 1-1 draw against Rangers at Ibrox, while Jaden Umeh and Benfica's under-19s secured the Portuguese National Championship with a 2-2 draw against Porto. Player of the Week: Jason Knight (Bristol City) Led Bristol City to a playoff place that no one predicted at the start of the season. The midfielder has been ever-present, playing every minute of every league game, and his consistent, high-level performances have been central to the Robins' remarkable rise to sixth place. Goal of the Week: Millenic Alli (Luton Town) Just TWO minutes after going behind in the game, Luton have brought themselves level and are now OUT of the relegation zone 💥🟠 — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) Millenic Alli takes the honour after scoring two stunning efforts in Luton Town's 5-3 defeat to West Brom on the final day. Despite the disappointment of relegation, the former St Francis schoolboy has been exceptional in recent weeks, consistently standing out for the Hatters, and his goals on Sunday were a testament to his quality. With performances like that, it's no surprise he's attracting attention and expect plenty of Championship clubs to chase his signature this summer. Stat of the Week: Jason Knight and Seán Roughan (4,140 minutes) Only six outfield players in the entire EFL played every single minute (4,140) of the 2024/25 season — and two of them are Irish! 🔝 - Jason Knight 💪🏼- Sean Roughan Iron men. Top professionals and players. — Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@reptracker) Just six outfield players across the entire EFL completed every single minute – 4,140 in total – and remarkably, two of them are Irish: Jason Knight and Seán Roughan. To go an entire campaign without missing a minute is a rare feat, and their performances have been vital throughout.
The 42
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Wrexham book Championship spot with third successive promotion
JAMES MCCLEAN CAPTAINED Wrexham to a 3-0 win over Charlton as they confirmed their third promotion in a row, sealing a place in the Championship in front of Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. The Sam Smith-inspired hosts took an early lead through Ollie Rathbone, who struck first time from the edge of the box in the 16th minute and found the bottom corner. The Welsh side doubled their advantage two minutes later when Matty James set up Smith smartly in the box and the forward volleyed in from close range. Tennai Watson got in behind the Wrexham backline just past the half-hour mark and got a shot away but his chance was saved by goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo. Early in the second half, Watson drove down the wing and delivered a brilliant low cross into the box, which was intended for substitute Micah Mbick, but Max Cleworth managed to clear. Wrexham got a third with just under 10 minutes remaining when Cleworth delivered a delightful cross into Smith, who guided it into the back of the net. The result ended Charlton's own hopes of automatic promotion, although their place in the Sky Bet League One play-offs is secure. Advertisement It's another promotion for former Ireland international McClean, who skippers the side and played the full game this evening. Eoghan O'Connell and Thomas O'Connor were unused substitutes for Wrexham, while former Ireland U21 captain Conor Coventry and Alex Gilbert both featured for Charlton. Josh Cullen (file photo). Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Meanwhile in the Championship, Josh Cullen was on target as promoted Burnley thrashed QPR 5-0. Zian Flemming and Jeremy Sarmiento both scored twice as the Clarets maintained their Championship title hopes by hammering QPR 5-0 in their penultimate match of the season. The dominant victory moved them top of the table, three points ahead of already-promoted Leeds. However, the Yorkshire side, who are at home to Bristol City on Monday evening, have a superior goal difference and know winning their final two matches will almost certainly seal the title. Both teams could finish the campaign with 100 points. Scott Parker's side are now unbeaten in 32 league games, have lost just twice this season and conceded just 15 goals. Elsewhere, there was disappointment for Callum O'Dowda and Joel Bagan as Cardiff were relegated from the Championship after a 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion. Just six years after Cardiff were playing in the Premier League, the Bluebirds have slumped into the third tier for the first time since 2003. Former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey was unable to save Cardiff in his spell as interim manager of the club he still plays for. Luton delivered a hammer blow to Cardiff earlier in the day with their dramatic 1-0 win against Coventry effectively leaving Ramsey's men needing to win their two final games to have any chance of survival. The stalemate in the Welsh capital ended bottom of the table Cardiff's hopes of beating the drop. Fourth-bottom Luton climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time since January thanks to Shandon Baptiste's 90th-minute winner against Coventry at Kenilworth Road. Sixth-placed Coventry, clinging onto the last play-off berth, had Jay Dasilva sent off in the 13th minute before Luton's Liam Walsh was dismissed midway through the second half. Preston's Championship future still hangs in the balance after slumping to a 2-1 defeat against Plymouth, who are all but relegated. - Additional reporting from – © AFP 2025
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Promotion 'a day I'll never forget'
Burnley midfielder Josh Cullen says winning promotion to the Premier League is an "absolutely amazing" feeling and a day he will "never forget".The 29-year-old has only missed two Championship games this season, making 42 appearances at the heart of the Clarets' midfield, including in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Monday to secure a return to the top flight."To do it with such a special group of people, not only the lads and the team-mates but the staff and everyone around the club, [I'm] just over the moon," Cullen told BBC Radio Lancashire."We always had that belief and I think, although we've played it down all season, when you looked at the fixture schedule, you thought this game could be a massive one."Obviously it turned out to be a defining one for us to get over the line. I think the run we've been on, the belief we have in ourselves, we always believed we can win games and we've got enough to score goals and defend when we have to defend."Cullen praised the atmosphere at Turf Moor and thanked the fans who have "pushed us on all year"."They've been magnificent this year and backed us the whole way. Happy to reward them and get the club back where it belongs," he Ireland international was in the squad when Burnley were relegated from the Premier League in 2023-24 and said it made this promotion "especially" satisfying."It's obviously been a lot tighter this year with three - four teams with Sunderland prior - going for the two automatic spots," Cullen added."We've had to be right on our game and it's probably a little bit extra this time having experienced the pain of relegation last year."We'll enjoy this moment, that's for sure."
