After a slow start, Irish nationals are now bound to Lisbon to match against the still invictus (or undefeated) higher seed of Group F, for a chance to play in the 2026 World Cup on October 11th, and another match against Armenia on the 14th at home. The Portuguese side is now ranked fifth in the official FIFA ranking system, while Ireland is in the 61st position in the same. It goes without saying that the Irish Nationals certainly have ground to make up. While the mountain is steep, just like when Ireland challenged the ranking’s reliability earlier this month after an unexpected 2-1 loss to Armenia, this next game could bring some surprises.
As of right now, and with four more matchups to end the group phase of the UEFA Qualifiers, Ireland and Hungary hold one point each, Armenia holds the second place of Group F with three points, and Portugal casts a long shadow over them all with two games and two victories, amounting to six points. The first place of the group advances directly to the World Cup, while the second place will have the opportunity to play in the playoffs, where 12 teams will play for four spots in the World Cup.
The Irish national team hit a rough patch in the last two games that put the much-expected dream of playing in a World Cup again at risk. Though heroic, their 2-2 comeback draw with Hungary highlighted shortcomings and foreshadowed difficulties to come. Later in September, and even more problematic, was the 2-1 loss to Armenia in Yerevan that has been deemed as one of the most egregious performances of the team in history. Shay Given, a former Irish goalkeeper, stated in the post-game panel on RTÉ that the match was “one of the worst results in our history as a nation in football”. Fans and formal media were quick to criticise Hallgrímsson’s tenure as the Irish team’s coach, many even suggesting that his job is hanging by a thread. Damien Delaney, a former Irish player, made heavy criticisms of Hallgrímsson’s job and tactical formations, blaming the coach for the abysmal performance of the last game on Virgin Media.
For Hallgrímsson, it is possible that his hopes to continue to hold his position, in addition to the team’s hopes of this year’s campaign alive, hinge on their performance in the game against Portugal. Hallgrímsson himself stated that the next game will be far different, where Portugal will “have longer possessions” and Ireland will have to “defend for longer spells”. Truth be told, it is highly unlikely for Ireland to leave Lisbon with but a single point. Even former player Kevin Doyle skeptically said that “if they [Portugal] can do that, what Armenia did to us, then, I don’t know, God help us in that game because they will rip us to shreds”.
Though unlikely to win away from the leader of Group F, a win or, more likely, a draw could put Ireland back on its tracks. Nonetheless, it is likely that the team will now depend on the other two opponents for a favourable scenario, even in the case of a miracle.
This position is not new for the Irish National team. Being an underdog may very well be their position of comfort when there are no expectations. And, for the superstitious and those who remembered, the last time Ireland qualified for a cup (in 2002), it did so with two crucial draws against the Portuguese side in 2001.
Anything can happen in those ninety minutes. And, as some like to say, football is not basketball: in a tournament with very few matches, the best team does not always win.
