Latest news with #HeimirHallgrímsson
The 42
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
A game soon forgotten but it does pose the question: just what do we want from Ireland?
ON AN EVENING like this, for a friendly like this, when summer beckons and we all just want the League of Ireland to return on Friday and dream of potential European adventures to come, a fair question to ask is this: just what do we want from Ireland? Long before Troy Parrott's disallowed goal – a shame as the dinked finish was sublime – on 66 minutes it was a question to be considered, with thoughts splintering in different directions. Heimir Hallgrímsson has made it clear to his coaching staff and the players exactly what it is that he demands. We detailed as much during the 1-1 draw with Senegal, and then Dara O'Shea spoke afterwards offering just a little bit more insight ahead of this trip to Luxembourg. 'The manager is big on someone making a decision and then everyone else going with that,' the defender, who started once again alongside captain Nathan Collins, explained. 'That's the way he wants us to be. He's drilled that into us in the sessions and I think everyone buys into that. As soon as someone sets the press off you need to go with them or else it's not going to work.' On the eve of this friendly with Luxembourg, with Collins sitting alongside him, Hallgrímsson emphasised once more that he wanted to see consistency in the performance and stability with the team shape. He made five changes to his starting XI and was forced into another within 20 minutes when Ryan Manning replaced the injured Robbie Brady. But the message would have been the same. Ireland were content for Luxembourg to enjoy harmless possession – 61% over the opening half hour, dropping to 56% towards the end – with players scuttling from side to side and ensuring the distances between them didn't become too vast so as to allow passing lanes opening up in behind. And some of this brings us back to what it is we want from an Ireland team. For the 300 or so travelling fans they didn't get a goal to celebrate, substitute Jack Taylor smashing the crossbar on 87 minutes. Advertisement Watching on TV, as so often can be the case when attention spans drift, there was a chance for a kind of introspection. Some of the banners being held up in one section of the ground were a catalyst. 'Red card for violence against women,' was the English translation of one. In the corner of the screen, where an Irish tricolour with Ballybrack was emblazoned across the front, a few more messages stood out from the locals. 'Let's break the silence.' 'Football is political.' 'Red card to the football federation.' Indeed, midway through the first half, pockets of supporters then stood up with red cards. Luxembourg striker Gerson Rodrigues was the reason for the second such protest in as many games. He was given an 18-month suspended sentence after being found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend, and last April he lost his appeal against the charges and subsequent fines. His inclusion in the squad and place in the starting XI was the source of severe criticism. As half-time came and went, with O'Shea and Collins combining from a Will Smallbone free kick just before the break and the skipper heading off the post, it wasn't simply judgement of the Rodrigues situation that lingered. If you wanted to really look deep into it, when the Ireland team plays it is also a chance to see a reflection of the country it should represent. Four days ago, for example, more than 700 members of the Muslim community celebrated Eid al-Adha in a section of Croke Park. It is one of the holiest festivals – the feast of the sacrifice – yet it still resulted in protestors outside. The day before that, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan, posted the following message on social media just before 8.30am. 'Another deportation flight left Dublin last night and landed safely this morning in Lagos, Nigeria. There were 35 people on board who had received but had not complied with Deportation Orders.' As was then detailed by The Journal, two of those children who were deported attended St James Primary school in Dublin 8 for the last three years. They had 'become an integral part of the community there' and the principal explained how staff and pupils were 'devastated' as the children were 'part of our football team, part of our school fabric, part of our school lives.' Those children would have been keen to watch this Ireland team play tonight. They should have been able to talk about it with classmates on Wednesday morning. By the time Evan Ferguson was shown a yellow card for stopping a counter attack 10 minutes into the second half, a broader examination of self, and the beliefs we hold, was underway. Yes, there did seem to be more of an edge to the action on the pitch, Parrott following Ferguson into the book for accosting Danel Sinani after he was yellow carded for a cynical foul on Kasey McAteer, but part of the reason for thoughts drifting was down to reading extracts of a speech made by Pep Guardiola that emerged on the day of the game. The Manchester City manager was receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester and made good use of the platform. 'It's so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts my whole body. Let me be clear, it's not about ideology. It's not about whether I'm right, or you're wrong. It's just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbour.' This 0-0 draw will be forgotten instantly, but if it can go some way to Ireland team building towards World Cup qualification then what a joy that will be. Ireland needs it.
Irish Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
RTÉ lads do well not to nod off after dour Ireland game in Luxembourg
You never, of course, want to make fibbing accusations, but you do have to wonder about the relationship with the truth of anyone who claimed to be tingling in anticipation of this end-of-season friendly against Luxembourg in Stade de Luxembourg in Luxembourg City. RTÉ couldn't even find anyone to turn up for studio duty, commentator Des Curran and ads for Butternut Box having to fill their 15 minute build-up. As well as Tony O'Donoghue's chat with birthday boy Heimir Hallgrímsson who was eager to get his teeth in to this tussle and extend Ireland's 2025 unbeaten run. Five changes in all from Friday's draw with Senegal, but in truth, the biggest team news of the night was the choice of Ronnie Whelan as co-commentator. Now, Ronnie, at the best of times, would struggle to sound enthused by a World Cup final. Even if he'd been, say, in the box with Marty Morrissey for the Munster hurling final last weekend, he'd have spent his time asking 'is it nearly over?' Or, 'yeah, I know Aaron Gillane has scored 5-27, but he misses more than he scores'. READ MORE So thoughts and prayers to the chairperson of the RTÉ co-commentator-picking committee who had to tell Ronnie he was their man for this encounter, while Ray Houghton, Stephen Kelly and the rest of the lads were downing sangrias somewhere sunny. 'Are you looking forward to this one,' asked Des. 'Very much so,' Ronnie lied, although he professed himself to have been impressed – even uplifted – by Ireland's performance against Senegal. 'Things are going in the right direction,' he said, before admitting that he worries when his hopes are raised because it's then that 'something happens'. The problem was, that very little happened at all in that first half, other than Nathan Collins hitting the woodwork, Des telling us that after the Butternut Box break that they'd come back with 'the main moments' from the opening 45. One of them, in their highlights montage, was Troy Parrott having his shirt dragged by a Luxembourg person, another showing Will Smallbone ending up on his bottom in slow motion. Yes, there was our Nathan's near-miss, but other than that, the pick-out moment was that of a gentleman in a leprechaun outfit, possibly an EU employee, searching for a booger up his left nostril. 'Is it nearly over,' you could almost hear Ronnie ask. Pre-match he had declared that Luxembourg are 'no mugs', but by half-time he was beginning to wonder. About Ireland too. His enthusiasm for the contest was waning. 'It's not exactly what you want, you want to be on a beach somewhere putting your feet up,' he said, the only thought that might have comforted him that of Ray Houghton, Stephen Kelly suffering from sunstroke and sangria hangovers. Ireland's Nathan Collins after the game. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho There was time for him to reminisce, at Des's prompting, about his goal against Luxembourg in the Euro 88 qualifiers, although Ronnie couldn't quite remember if his hit was from 20, 40 or 100 yards, the story growing in the telling. No matter, he scored, which is what he very much desired Ireland to do at some point on this June 2025 evening. Luxembourg, granted, had their moments, Gerson Rodrigues among their greater threats, him taking a timeout from his conviction for assaulting his former partner, as the 'Red Card For Violence Against Women' banner in the crowd reminded us. Similar banners were forcibly removed from the crowd during Luxembourg's friendly last week because they were somewhat inflammatory and might well have broken the sport's ban on expressing any form of objection to bad things. Football, what are you like? Any way, on we went. This was, to be honest, no Munster hurling final. Des, fair play to him, maintained his enthusiasm, but Ronnie was wilting. 'Player of the match,' Des asked. 'It's a difficult one,' Ronnie replied, possibly having nodded off not long after half-time and having no clue how anyone performed thereafter. But he opted for Jason Knight, largely because he'd managed to stay awake through the game. 'It's a game that won't live long in the memory,' Des conceded. It'll take several gallons of sangria, you'd suspect, for Ronnie to recover from that one. Scoreless against Luxembourg in Stade de Luxembourg in Luxembourg City? He's thanking the footballing Gods that Ireland's season is finally over.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish fans surprise Heimir Hallgrímsson with birthday card ahead of kick-off
Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson was surprised with a birthday card from travelling fans and took time to take a selfie ahead of kick-off against Luxembourg. The Boys in Green conclude their international window this evening against the world's 91st-ranked side, but it just so happens the match falls on the Ireland boss's 58th birthday. Having previously managed homeland Iceland, Hallgrimsson is known for his close bond with supporters and used to turn up to a bar pre-game to discuss team selection with supporters. Although that ritual has not travelled across, the new boss has taken an understated approach since taking over as he regularly turns up to League of Ireland games and events without FAI handlers. Hallgrimsson will be hoping for one more birthday present this evening as Ireland look to build up momentum ahead of September's World Cup qualifiers and he has named a mixed starting XI for the game, with goalkeeper Max O'Leary getting his first start six years after his first call up. 'I am really pleased for him. Travelling since 2019, that was his first meet up with the team, he has been with us, supporting, always positive, always keeping up the standard for all this time without having a cap, so I am really pleased he is getting his chance to show himself and shine for our fans. Troy Parrott and Evan Ferguson both start the game while Killian Phillips has also got the nod.
The 42
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
LIVE: Luxembourg v Ireland, international friendly
Hello, and welcome to tonight's liveblog. Ireland may be 31 places above Luxembourg in the Fifa world rankings, however, it's not expected to be an easy game. The so-called minnows infamously beat Stephen Kenny's Ireland in Dublin, and Sweden are among their more recent notable scalps. Heimir Hallgrímsson's side will be confident, however. They are three matches unbeaten following back-to-back wins over Bulgaria and last week's draw with Senegal in Dublin. The Boys in Green were even a little unlucky not to beat the 19th-ranked team, as had VAR been in place, the visitors' late equaliser would likely have been ruled out for offside.
Irish Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Luxembourg v Ireland live updates: International friendly
Luxembourg v Ireland, 7.45pm -1 minutes ago Here is the match preview from Gavin Cummiskey. " Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson invited the travelling media to watch the Monday morning session at Stade de Luxembourg, where the bones of a potential line-up played the rest of his 24-man panel. 'Bosun Lawal and John Joe Patrick Finn anchored midfield for the orange bibs but neither is expected to win a first cap against the Grand Duchy, certainly not from the start. 'The other nine on show, however, could feature when Hungary come to Dublin for the crucial opening World Cup qualifier on September 6th." [ Heimir Hallgrímsson unlikely to spring a surprise against Luxembourg Opens in new window ] 13 minutes ago Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ireland 's game against Luxembourg, an international friendly to round off the season, at the Stade de Luxembourg. Kick-off is at 7.45pm. After a 1-1 draw against Senegal on Friday, the Heimir Hallgrímsson 's men will look to get a win under their belt in Luxembourg. Ireland have beaten their opponents in six out of seven games in their history, but lost to Luxembourg in 2021 under Stephen Kenny, which will in memory. Expect a few new faces to get a run out in the last game before Ireland welcome Hungary for an all-important World Cup qualifier in September. The teams will follow when they are announced.
