Eoin Harrington reporting from the Aviva Stadium
It was a damaging night for Heimir Hallgrímsson’s Ireland on Tuesday, as Greece ran out 2-0 winners in Dublin, in a game which the hosts looked set to win for large parts of the first half.
Saturday’s dominant display by England in the Aviva Stadium had put a dampener on any enthusiasm held by Ireland fans entering the Hallgrímsson era, though it seemed at the break on Tuesday night that positive signs were emerging.
Ireland could easily have been in front at half-time, with Chiedozie Ogbene having a screamer ruled out for offside and Alan Browne coming close on two occasions.
In all too familiar fashion, Greece would then open the scoring minutes into the second half with a long-range goal. From the moment the ball left Fotis Ioannidis’ feet, the feeling of deflation around the Aviva Stadium was palpable.
It had a knock-on effect on the players in green shirts, with performance levels dropping everywhere one looked across the pitch. Greece’s late second goal was fully deserved, and Hallgrímsson reflected on a surprisingly humbling defeat with the Irish press at full-time.
In his post-match press conference, the Icelandic coach would again question the confidence of his Irish players, suggesting that some found the jersey “too heavy.”
We didn’t take our chances when we had them and then the first, not even a big mistake, but our first mistake, is punished. And that happens to teams without a lack of confidence, the details in decision-making.
It’s difficult to play against Greece when they are 1-0 ahead, they have players to punish and are good on counter-attack. And they are patient defending.
It was tough conceding that first goal. I thought we played pretty well in the first-half. It was good from the eyes of organisation, compactness, nullifying what the Greeks were doing. We didn’t give them chances and we had good options when we were going forward, even our passing was pretty slick.
It’s this confidence thing.
It feels like maybe the jersey is a little bit too heavy for some players. When they put them on, they don’t show the same quality as they do maybe in their clubs. So we need to change that, we need to change that.
Strong words from the new man in charge – though he saw positives on a night many left the Aviva Stadium feeling more dejected than ever.
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Heimir Hallgrimsson responds to tough Ireland defeat v Greece
10 September 2024; Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson during the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match between Republic of Ireland and Greece at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Heimir Hallgrímsson has explained his doubts about confidence in this Ireland group on several occasions over the last week, and nothing from Tuesday’s defeat to Greece will have dissuaded him from those beliefs.
Despite once again raising those concerns after a second straight loss on Tuesday, he was adamant that his side had improved in the three-day gap since England.
Like I said before, confidence comes with knowing your team-mate, confidence comes from knowing if you do something your team-mate will cover you, if you are in a position, you know exactly what you’re team-mate is doing.
That kind of connection is lacking. The solution is basically is to find the players we want to play quickly, and play them. The solution is not out there. The solution is to find that connection, that understanding, between the players. Because at this level, the slightest mistake can cost you the game.
[But] I want to emphasise I feel much better in this game from the England game. The organisation emerging, and it’s working step by step on that. I felt first-half, we should have been one up at least. Goals always change games and ours was disallowed, a magnificent strike and their first goal changes the game completely.
Nonetheless, Hallgrímsson wanted to make clear that he is not lying down and accepting defeat.
The 57-year-old said he was a “really sore loser,” and he was adamant about turning things around.
Nobody told me it was going to be an easy job. I know it is going to take time. I think the first step is positive even though we lost these two games.
Don’t write us off yet.
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