Republic of Ireland Prepares for Crucial World Cup Qualifier Against Armenia
FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Republic of Ireland vs. Armenia
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Tuesday, 14 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary available on the BBC Sport website.
Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has stated that "the result is the only thing that matters" as the Republic of Ireland gears up for a pivotal World Cup qualifier against Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday night.
Currently sitting at the bottom of Group F, Hallgrimsson's team has faced defeats against both Armenia and Portugal, with their only point coming from a 2-2 draw at home against Hungary in September.
With an opportunity for redemption against Armenia, the Republic of Ireland must secure a victory to keep their slim hopes of qualifying for the World Cup alive.
“I believe in this team, and I think we have everything it takes to qualify for the World Cup,” Hallgrimsson expressed. “We may not be the favorites in the group right now, but a win would change that, and I am confident we can achieve it.”
Highlighting the necessity of a strong start in front of their home fans, Hallgrimsson reflected on a frustrating defeat against Portugal on Saturday, where a late goal from Ruben Neves sealed the match. He acknowledged the need to adjust tactics for the upcoming clash with Armenia.
“We knew that once Portugal failed to score, they would become frustrated. You could see it in their body language as the match went on,” he noted. “Now, we need to flip that psychology. We must focus on winning the game without losing our concentration from the outset.”
“Game management will be crucial. The goal could come late, like in Portugal, but we must keep pushing forward. It’s important to maintain a collective approach in both attack and defense.”
Hallgrimsson, who previously led Iceland to the 2018 World Cup finals, remains optimistic that a single victory could significantly enhance the Republic of Ireland's chances of qualifying for the tournament next summer.
“We understand that Armenia is a strong team, and we will not underestimate them. There will be considerable pressure on us tomorrow. We must accept that reality,” he said. “However, we don’t need to rush. We need to be smart in our approach against this team. If we don’t, they can certainly punish us, as they did in Armenia.”