For eternal optimists like Heimir Hallgrímsson, the Republic of Ireland can still qualify for the 2026 World Cup via a playoff next March.
“Two wins and we are in,” said the manager, despite attaching a health warning to the 25-man squad he has named ahead of the final Group F qualifiers at home to Portugal next Thursday and away to Hungary on Sunday, November 16th.
If results go according to form, and Hungary beat Armenia in Yerevan and Portugal overcome an understrength Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, the trip to Budapest will be a dead rubber – Portugal will top the group and Hungary will enter the playoffs as runners-up.
Despite Troy Parrott’s superb goal record for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league, Ireland are hoping that Evan Ferguson makes a speedy recovery from ankle ligament damage to feature for Roma against Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.
“No
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