Ogbene Calls Hungary Clash "All or Nothing" for Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland winger Chiedozie Ogbene acknowledges that Sunday’s final World Cup qualifying match against Hungary in Budapest (14:00 GMT) is a crucial "all or nothing" scenario.
Ogbene played a pivotal role in his team’s 2-0 victory over Portugal in Dublin on Thursday, a result that kept their qualification hopes alive.
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad currently sits third in Group F, trailing Hungary by one point and Portugal by three. Portugal will conclude their qualifiers at home against Armenia at the same time on Sunday.
Any result less than a win would extinguish the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of qualification, and Ogbene emphasizes the need to put their victory over Portugal behind them as they prepare for another significant challenge.
"This result hasn’t defined us yet," the 28-year-old told BBC Sport NI. "We have to approach the match in Hungary with a clear mindset and we must secure a win. It’s truly all or nothing; a draw won’t benefit us, so we need to aim for victory in this game."
He added, "We understand it will be a tough match, and Hungary will be fully aware that we need to win, so they will do everything they can to frustrate us. We have to carry this momentum and positive feeling into Sunday’s game."
While Troy Parrott’s two goals propelled the Republic of Ireland to victory on Thursday, a significant moment in the match was the red card issued to Cristiano Ronaldo in the second half for elbowing Dara O'Shea.
Ogbene suggested that the 40-year-old's reaction stemmed from his inability to penetrate the Irish defense. "Frustration can affect even the best players," he remarked. "Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players in the world, if not the greatest, and it happened to him, which speaks volumes about how well our boys defended."