FAI...New Manager is Heimir Hallgrimsson

[LarryStiles]

Open top on Dublin tomorrow for Ireland team?

[AustinPowers]

Open top on Dublin tomorrow for Ireland team?

Why does everything  have to happen in Dublin?

[Tony Baloney]

The Bulgarians didn't have far to travel.

[Look-Up!]

Any win these days with a couple of goals scored is not to be sneezed at despite the opposition. Ferguson looked off the pace at times but took the goal very well. Portugal with a big win tonight so will be in our WC group. Will be a huge task for us based on what we've seen so far. Will need to be much tighter defensively to avoid embarrassment but at least there's some green shoots for us up front, no matter how small.

[Dag Dog]

The latest balls up in the FAI. Marc Canham is out the door!

It's time we faced up to it. The man Irish soccerball needs back at the wheel is...

[AustinPowers]

BBC 1 NI, 10.40  tonight

The Saipan story

[weareros]

Good first half by Ireland and lead 1-0 at h/t in friendly v Senegal. Good goal by McAteer, showed good goal poaching instincts to get it on second attempt.

[weareros]

1-1 in the end with Senegal stepping it up in second half.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

One of their better performances. The defense is still a worry. The number of times Senegal put the ball in the box and it all became rather chaotic

[weareros]

Ireland's main WC group challenger Portugal in action against Spain in Nations League final. 1-1 after 27 mins.

Apologies - see there's a separate nations league thread.

[Blowitupref]

0-0 result with Luxembourg tonight.

[Milltown Row2]

0-0 result with Luxembourg tonight.

Could be worse! England beat well enough tonight

[Capt Pat]

Ogbene back on the pitch tonight for Ipswich for 68 minutes. He should be ready for when Ireland need him in September.

[An Watcher]

Big game tonight.  If we're realistic, a win is absolutely vital to have any real hope of pipping Hungary to second spot.  Forget about a draw and a defeat is game over.
There's alot of optimism about.  Not sure where it is coming from but fingers crossed

[seafoid]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/0905/1532096-preview-hungary-opener-to-test-irelands-growth/

Hallgrimsson's philosophy for the Ireland team is based around a set of principles, which he feels can prove the difference in games between similar sides, and the manager wants the players to be the best at these areas in the performance to really lift their qualification hopes.
In a recent press briefing, the manager went through six of his main principles to offer insight ahead of the qualification campaign.
"We like to be the best organised team, defensively, attacking as well," said Hallgrimsson. "Just structure and organisation, that is something that we can do no matter who the opponent is.
"We like to be the best set-play team as possible, and the best in Europe, hopefully. Slowly by slowly, because that is the key," he added, citing a recent Liverpool game where the English champions' coach said that they didn't play football, but played set-pieces, from free-kicks, from throw-ins.
"Being good in this area can win you the game if it's tight," said Hallgrimsson.
"We have the best focus in a disciplined team," was another of the manager's principles, thinking about the bigger picture, not giving away silly free-kicks in dangerous areas, or picking up needless cautions, which could lead to suspensions.


We like to be the hardest-working team, winning our duels, winning our one-v-ones. In attack, we like to be forward-thinking, fast-attacking, if that's possible. So once we win it, we like to think forward quickly and surprise the opponents.
"And then we like to fill the team with leaders, good characters, that will grow this team, " said Hallgrimsson
"And I think all of these areas kind of represent the Irish nation. I think the Irish are pretty well-organised, they are hard-working, honest people with good character. And we like to represent that."