Boys in Green boss aware of rivalry, but wants repeat of ‘special’ Iceland victory at Euro 2016
But the Ireland manager is hoping for a repeat of a success he oversaw for his native Iceland against England at Euro 2016.
This is a first competitive meeting of the nations since 1991, four friendly games since then including the abandoned Lansdowne Road match of 1995, and the presence of former Ireland players Declan Rice and Jack Grealish in an England squad managed by ex-Ireland international Lee Carsley have only added to the sense of occasion.
Hallgrimsson says he has been made aware of the historical context of the Ireland-England rivalry, but he’s playing down the non-football background to the clash to focus on the job in hand, outwitting a side ranked fourth in the world.
Ireland v England preview
“I’ve been briefed on those things. I think for us coaches it’s probably not necessary to motivate the players to play against England. It’s probably the opposite for us, to just remind them what they should be doing on the pitch, focus on the tactics etc,” Hallgrimsson said before today’s training session at Lansdowne Road.
“That has been kind of what we have been talking about. It has probably been to cool them more down than to get them excited and motivated.
“I think that comes from within them, to do good and motivated. So we can say it’s more our job to cool them down and get them focused on what they should be doing on the pitch.
“I’m really excited, first and foremost I’m excited to feel the atmosphere, everybody is talking about how good it is and I know it’s going to be massive against England.
“I’m just looking forward to that, working with the players for the first time, see what we have been trying to do in the trainings and see can we transfer it to the match.
“There’s lots of things I’m looking forward to but most of all meet the fans and the atmosphere in the Aviva,” he added.
Confirming that he has a fully-fit squad, which should mean a role for Evan Ferguson who has not played since surgery on an ankle injury in April, Hallgrimsson says he will draw on the memory of Euro 2016 when his Iceland side shocked England with a 2-1 win.
“I hope we will have the same result tomorrow, of course. We were just speaking in the car on the way in, that night was special,” he said.
“Everything we did that night succeeded, whether it was tactical, taking our chances, defending our goal, and nothing England tried that night succeeded,” he said.
“So it was just one of those days. Hopefully it will come again tomorrow. But we know, even if we have our best game, it still isn’t sure it will lead into a victory against a good team like England.
“We need to make sure we have the best game we can tomorrow and see what that gives us,” he added, with the caveat that this current England side is stronger that the one he overcame in 2016.
“It’s a totally different team. The individual quality, the technical skills, the speed, of this [England] team is much higher than the one we played,” he noted.
“Also, they are coming off from a good tournament and I would say the biggest difference is they have stayed together for two months now, and we have three days to prepare.
“That is going to be challenging as their routine is so drilled, whether it’s on the pitch or off the pitch. Coming from a good U21 campaign as well, they come on a high here, players playing Champions League day in, day out. It’s good individuals for sure we are facing.
“To answer the question: the individual skills are higher than the last England team I faced.”
Hallgrimsson said he was unsure if he would inform his players of the starting XI on Friday afternoon, after a morning training session at the stadium, to remove doubt from their minds to allow a peaceful sleep.
“It’s basically none of your business when I talk to the players and show them the line-up but usually I’ve done it matchday minus one in the afternoon so the players can sleep on the starting XI,” he said at a news conference.
“That’s the normal way. If I do it now, I’m not sure. The reason I do that is for the players to know and think about it in bed matchday minus one and be prepared.”