Republic of Ireland faces a daunting task as they prepare to face Portugal in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge, stating that his team will need to be "near perfect" to secure a positive result. The match, set to take place at the Jose Alvalade Stadium on Saturday, holds significant importance for Ireland's Group F aspirations.

Ireland's qualification hopes have already been dented following a home draw against Hungary and a defeat to Armenia in the previous month. These results have left Ireland with only one point from their opening two games, putting them in a precarious position and in need of a "miracle" to revive their chances of securing a top-two spot.

Hallgrímsson, who took over as the Republic of Ireland national team coach on July 10, 2024, is aware of the uphill battle his team faces. The 58-year-old Icelander, also a qualified dentist, is renowned for his previous role as joint-coach of the Iceland team that famously reached the Euro 2016 quarter-finals.

Former Ireland defender Kenny Cunningham has suggested that Hallgrímsson should consider starting with two centre-forwards against Portugal, believing that this could be the key to unlocking a potentially "clunky" Portuguese defence. Cunningham emphasized the need for a positive result against Portugal and advocated for a more direct style of play to give Ireland the best chance of achieving that.

Cunningham voiced his surprise at Ireland's approach in the previous games, noting that the team's performances were "way below" their capabilities. He expressed shock at the team's setup and style of play in the first half against Hungary.

Looking ahead to the Portugal game, Cunningham speculated on Portugal's defensive setup, suggesting that Rúben Dias and Rúben Neves might play at centre-half. He believes that playing two forwards and hitting Portugal on the counter-attack could exploit any perceived clumsiness in their movement.

Despite the low expectations surrounding the fixture, some believe that Ireland could pull off a shock result against Portugal. It is anticipated that Hallgrímsson might opt for a 4-4-1-1 formation, a system he has often favored during his time in charge of Ireland. This formation provides flexibility, allowing the team to switch to a back three or back five if needed during the game.

There are some concerns regarding the fitness of Evan Ferguson, with the Roma player being the only squad member who didn't participate in training in Dublin on Tuesday afternoon. Nevertheless, it is expected that Ferguson will be available for the game against Portugal and will likely start if fit.

Hallgrímsson faces a significant challenge in galvanizing his team and devising a strategy to overcome a formidable Portugal side. While a difficult task, a "perfect" performance, as the manager stated, might just be enough to keep Ireland's World Cup qualification hopes alive.