Hallgrimsson Criticizes Team’s ‘Sloppy’ and ‘Boring’ Display in Luxembourg Stalemate
Hallgrimsson criticizes team’s ‘sloppy’ and ‘boring’ display as Ireland’s international season ended on a flat note with a goalless draw against Luxembourg. The underwhelming performance came just days after a spirited 1-1 draw against Senegal, where the Boys in Green impressed with energy and intensity. This time, however, the tempo was missing, and despite hitting the woodwork twice first through Nathan Collins in the first half and later via Jack Taylor’s powerful strike late in the game the team failed to find the net or inspire confidence. The encounter, held at the Stade de Luxembourg, featured five changes to the starting lineup and lacked the sharpness seen in previous outings.
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Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the match, Hallgrimsson didn’t hold back in his post-match assessment, particularly disappointed with the team’s first-half showing. “Let’s be honest, we’re not happy with that performance,” he said bluntly. While he welcomed the clean sheet the first under his management it was overshadowed by what he described as a lackluster opening 45 minutes. He lamented the absence of all the positives from the Senegal match, including the high pressing, sharp passing, and fast movement. “The game was boring,” he admitted, underlining how the team’s energy levels dipped significantly.
Second-Half Improvement Not Enough
There was a slight uptick in performance in the second half, as Ireland upped the tempo and won more physical battles. However, Hallgrimsson remained unimpressed, stating that even a victory wouldn’t have masked the underperformance. “We had some chances, but even if we won the game, we still wouldn’t have been happy with the performance,” he noted, stressing that evaluating how the team plays is more important than the result itself.
Focus Shifts to Crucial World Cup Qualifiers
With the friendly fixtures now over, attention turns to Ireland’s upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign. They’ll begin with a home game against Hungary on 6 September, followed by a trip to Armenia. Despite the poor showing in Luxembourg, Hallgrimsson remains optimistic. Celebrating his 58th birthday, he viewed the draw as a valuable lesson. “We must play the same way against everyone, whether an end-of-season friendly or a group stage game,” he concluded.
