'Teams will take points off each other' - Heimir Hallgrimsson not daunted by Ronaldo and Szoboszlai
Hallgrimsson Head World Briefing Time: Media For A Republic Headquarters Fifa In At Cup Ireland Of Before Heimir Portrait Pic: Stands Daly/sportsfile Draw A Heimir Seb Fai Abbotstown Coach
Full points against Armenia and a few from the higher seeds is the formula Heimir Hallgrimsson feels Ireland need to end their World Cup famine.
Ireland were third seeds for Friday’s World Cup draw but the influence of Uefa Nations League permutations applied restrictions and contingencies to the outcome.
For instance, it will be March 23 before they know their top seed, as it will be the winner of the League A quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark.
Hungary are the confirmed second seeds – their side led by Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai qualified for the last two Euros – but their World Cup drought stretches back further than Ireland’s to 1986.
Hallgrimsson’s predecessor Stephen Kenny didn’t recover from defeat to Armenia in 2022 and the Icelander believes his team will benefit from that experience when it comes to facing the fourth seeds.
Only the winners of the 12 groups are guaranteed to reach the 2026 showpiece in USA, Canada and Mexico, with the runners-up funnelled into the playoffs.
“Neutral,” was his first reaction. “It could have been worse or better.
“This is definitely a group in which the teams will take points from each other. Looking at it, I don’t think there will be a runaway winner which makes it more positive to qualify, which is good for us.
“I feel that both of the top seeded teams play similar football. They are possession teams with creative players, both teams are really good on the ball.
“Portugal has better individuals. Denmark has a really good collective team. In Scandinavia they are the best in terms of technique or pressing.”
Ireland’s 2025 is now mapped out, beginning with the Nations League playoff relegation decider against Bulgaria over two legs in March. They’ll have two friendlies in June, likely one at home, before the real business kicks off. Fixtures for World Cup qualifying are due to be unveiled on Friday evening.
They have recent history with the teams – losing 3-0 to Portugal in the June window days after beating another Euros-bound team Hungary. Armenia posed problems during the previous Nations League campaign.
“To qualify we’ll need six points from the games against Armenia,” asserted the manager. “We will also require points off the seeds above us. We know that.
“Maybe it is a positive for us that we played these teams and it is probably good to have lost against Armenia. They are seeded below us but I don’t think our players would underestimate them.”