Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has stressed the need for his side to perform at their peak from the start of Tuesday’s World Cup Group F qualifier against Armenia in Yerevan.
His warning follows a concerning pattern of slow starts. In eight of Hallgrimsson’s nine competitive games in charge, Ireland has conceded the opening goal, and on four of those occasions—including Saturday against Hungary—they have fallen behind within the first 20 minutes.
This vulnerability was evident in their opening qualifier, where the team fought back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a 2-2 draw against Hungary. After Barnabas Varga and Roland Sallai established an early lead for the visitors, a strike from Evan Ferguson and an equaliser from Adam Idah rescued a point.
Hallgrimsson believes Armenia, who have had more recovery time, will look to press their advantage from the outset. “They probably fancy their chances in the beginning, so we need to be ready from kick-off,” he stated.
Despite the flawed start against Hungary, the manager praised his team’s resilience and character. “From the 30th minute, I think we more or less controlled the game,” he told reporters. “If we can keep on playing like we did from minute 30, I would be happy.”
The challenge in Yerevan will be compounded by energy-sapping conditions, with temperatures expected to exceed 30°C.
Source link
