Decision time: Interim head coach John O’Shea during a Republic of Ireland training session in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Gareth Southgate, Dragan Stojkovic, Hansi Flick, Gus Poyet and Vincenzo Montella is an impressive five-a-side of managerial excellence who have at least one thing in common.
They may not have all succeeded in taking their national teams to the Euro 2024 finals: Poyet’s Greece fell at the last hurdle and Flick was sacked by hosts Germany, while England (Southgate), Serbia (Stojkovic) and Turkey (Montella) qualified. But that famous five all share war stories and scars from battles with Hungary, who come to Dublin for tonight’s friendly riding high on a run of 14 games unbeaten.