The Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign is at a critical juncture after a heartbreaking defeat to Portugal. As they prepare to face Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday evening, several talking points emerge.
A persistent issue under manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has been the team's inability to replicate strong performances in the second match of international breaks. Ireland has struggled in these games, suffering four losses and one draw in their last six second matches under Hallgrimsson. This "second match syndrome" needs to be addressed if Ireland hopes to progress.
The physical and mental toll of the narrow defeat in Portugal cannot be ignored. A grueling match, decided by a late goal, will have tested the players. Hallgrimsson may need to rotate his squad, introducing fresh legs while maintaining the organization and commitment displayed in Lisbon. The performance against Portugal, while ultimately resulting in a loss, showcased a resolute Irish side that frustrated the Portuguese attack for much of the game.
One enforced change sees John Cullen suspended after picking up a yellow card against Portugal, his second booking of the campaign. An uncapped midfielder has been called up to replace him.
Despite the defeat, there were positives to take from the match in Portugal. The Irish defense, led by Seamus Coleman, who, at 37, started the match, showed great resilience. However, questions have been raised about the late substitution of Coleman shortly before Portugal's winning goal.
Hallgrimsson stated that "Win all that matters as Republic of Ireland face Armenia". After three games, Ireland sit at the bottom of Group F with only one point. They need to beat Armenia to stay in the race. Anything less than a win would likely mean the bottom of the group.
The defeat against Portugal followed a familiar pattern of narrow losses. All ten of Ireland's competitive defeats since September 2020 have been by a single goal. Ireland has also conceded significantly more goals in the second half of matches. After "winning" the first half of their Uefa Nations League B1 fixtures against Armenia, Ukraine and Scotland last year by an overall score of 5-0, Ireland proceeded to "lose" the second period by a combined score of 3-7.
The team needs to find a way to maintain their level of performance throughout the entire match and convert promising displays into tangible results. The game against Armenia is a must-win for Ireland to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive and to prove that they can overcome their second match struggles.
