Heimir Hallgrimsson wants quick start to fuel World Cup dream

RTÉ News​

11-06-2025

Heimir Hallgrimsson is targeting at least four points from the Republic of Ireland's opening World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Armenia.
The Icelander spent his 58th birthday watching his team secure a laboured 0-0 friendly draw in Luxembourg, which he later admitted was "boring" at times, in what was their final fixture before the competitive games start in September.
A much-changed Ireland were far from at their best at the Stade de Luxembourg just four days after a creditable display in a 1-1 draw with Senegal, but Hallgrimsson knows the stakes will be raised significantly when the squad next meet up.
Asked if they needed four points from the first two games, Hallgrimsson replied: "Yes. Four points would be good; six points would be better."
He added: "I give myself that you would say we get a draw against Hungary and win in Armenia - probably it would be worse if it was the opposite.
"Four points would be OK, a good start. Six is what we aim for."
"It's the only sport in the world where a third division team can win against a first division team."
Hallgrimsson will mark 12 months in his new job next month having presided over a modest improvement in Ireland's on-pitch fortunes - they have won four and drawn two of his 10 games to date, a return which had given him cause for optimism.
Tuesday night's events came as something of a disappointment, as he admitted when asked where his team are compared to where he hoped they might be at this stage shortly after the final whistle in Luxembourg.
He replied: "I would have been 100% confident two hours ago, but this is also football.
"You can be a much better team and still lose a match. That's why everybody loves this game. It's because sometimes even with a good performance you can lose a game. That's why everybody loves it.
"It's the only sport in the world where a third division team can win against a first division team. You can look at all other sports, it doesn't happen.
"We didn't play well, we kept a clean sheet. If it had been a group stage, we would have had a point and OK, let's call that growth."
Ireland did hit the woodwork twice through Nathan Collins and substitute Jack Taylor either side of half-time, but were indebted to debutant goalkeeper Max O'Leary for saves from Danel Sinani and Vincent Thill, and Hallgrimsson was particularly unimpressed with the opening 45 minutes.
He said: "We were really disappointed with the first half. It was actually just boring, there was nothing happening in the first half.
"We didn't play well, but we played away and didn't concede a goal, so even though we are not playing our best, if we can get points and maybe wins, that's a good sign."