NEW Ireland football manager Heimir Hallgrimsson admits he has been blown away by the support of the “good, welcoming people” of his adopted home country as he gears up to face England.
And the Icelandic coach — who is no stranger to masterminding performances against the Three Lions — told how he spent a great summer here preparing for the biggest gig of his career to date.
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Ireland face England in a mouth-watering Nations League opener in Dublin this Saturday in what is expected to be a sold-out Lansdowne Road.
And the new head honcho already feels at home here having bedded into the culture this summer ahead of taking charge.
He admitted: “(I have loved it), it was absolutely great, loving it.
“Good people, good, welcoming people and I feel a genuine support from everyone, from the board, from the staff, people everywhere and especially the fans. I have now been able to meet them.
“It’s a great honour for me just to be considered as the coach of Ireland, coming from maybe not the biggest football country in the world.”
Asked had he received any advice from good-natured Ireland fans, he told FAI TV: “A lot! Everyone is a football fanatic here so everybody has something to offer!
“A player here and there, and how you should do things, but most of all everyone says you have to win (against) England!”
The new chief was speaking after legend John Aldridge urged Hallgrimsson to “go back to basics” and “put ’em under pressure” this weekend.
And the former Liverpool star believes a sold-out Lansdowne Road can help roar the Iceland boss to victory in his debut game.
But Aldo reckons the Green Army will have their part to play this weekend for the visit of the Three Lions, who have named ex-Ireland stars Jack Grealish and Declan Rice in their squad.
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FOOTBALL legends Tony Cascarino, Stuart Pearce, Andy Reid and Neil
O’Riordan will join The Irish Sun’s first live football preview event on Tuesday September 3 ahead of the Republic of Ireland v England match in The Aviva that weekend.
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The 65-year-old former striker — who represented the Boys in Green at three major tournaments — is under no illusions as to the challenge ahead on Saturday.
But he reckons we can channel the spirit of Euro ’88 when Ireland defeated England at our first ever major tournament.
John said: “The atmosphere will be brilliant, the fans will be up for it certainly and you never know it could be another Stuttgart with a little bit of luck.”
No Illusions
Aldridge, who won 69 caps for Ireland, admitted interim England boss Lee Carsley — a former Ireland international — has a wealth of options for his own maiden game in charge.
He said: “England, if they click going forward with the players they have, they are absolutely tremendous.
“They’re probably the best set of forwards in world football, attacking wise.
“You need to keep them at bay first of all and defend really well in numbers and hit them on the break.
“I don’t think you can play an open game with England.
“It might be different under Lee, but over the years England haven’t played open football, they’re quite tentative at times.”
Meanwhile fans welcomed the FAI scrapping their previous ticket policy for Ireland vs England tickets seven days before their UEFA Nations League showdown.
Ticket change
Remarkably, given the history behind the fixture, the game is not yet sold out even with just a week until kick-off.
Irish fans who wanted to watch the England and Greece games separately couldn’t do so without buying the two games in a package deal with Ireland’s final home game vs Finland on November 14.
That option had been the only way for Irish fans to bag a seat for the England game.
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