Does manager Heimir Hallgrímsson know Ireland's players well enough? Kevin Kilbane thinks not. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Everything about the performance against Armenia on Tuesday night was unfamiliar. I cannot remember an Ireland team being so “passive”, so “nervy” – the manager’s words – and so defensively minded when faced by a minnow of world football in a must-win World Cup qualifier.
Ireland sat in against Armenia and invited them to attack us, at home.
I’ve never known an Irish side, even at its lowest point, to collectively agree that it was a good idea to start with a back five and two defensive midfielders against such poor opposition.
Despite the noise coming from the Ireland camp, Armenia are ranked 103rd in the world for good reason.
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