Ireland chase the chance of a bright new era

For once, there’s an unmistakable sense of optimism surrounding the Irish football team this week. The giddiness that is palpable amongst football fans, and the wider sporting public, is a welcome change from the sense of apathy that had become the norm when approaching international windows.

This one, of course, is different. The prospect of an appearance at the World Cup finals for the first time in 24 years is enough to ratchet up the excitement levels and, after such a barren period, the Irish public is salivating at the thought of Ireland securing a ticket to the biggest show in town this summer.

For all the positivity surrounding the Irish team right now, though, there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s a tall order, well beyond anything else Ireland have managed to do in the modern era. But, there’s a quiet confidence and that is justified on a number of fronts, not least because of the heroics of those magical five days in November when Ireland downed both Portugal and Hungary to make it to this stage.

If there is to be a play-off final in Dublin next week, Ireland first need to beat Czechia in Prague on Thursday.

If we’re to take a step back and assess this match on its merits, as one of RTÉ’s famed analysis team would once say, Czechia hold many of the cards. They too have experienced a slide in recent years and have slumped to some stunningly bad results in the 12 months, including a 2-1 defeat to the Faroe Islands last October. Indeed, Czechia’s last three matches have been against the Faroes, San Marino (who they only beat 1-nil) and Gibraltar. Thursday’s match will be a large step up in quality.

Notwithstanding the turmoil of the last year, which also included a managerial change with elder statesman Miroslav Koubek taking the reins in December, they are still a country with high hopes and a well-established footballing culture. Koubek, in assessing the threat posed by Ireland, said of their opponents ‘They play simple and straightforward football, they are very aggressive and intense.’ In those last couple of words, Koubek has nailed what Ireland need to bring with them to Prague on Thursday.

Czechia may have a natural swagger about them after experiencing some heady days over the last 20 years, with players like Pavel Nedved and Milan Baros carving out impressive careers at club level. They haven’t been to a World Cup since 2006, but they have been at the last eight stagings of the European Championships, a sequence which includes an appearance in the decider in 1996 when they lost to Germany. But they are a nation with little confidence and whatever confidence there is, it’s brittle right now off the back of the last 12 months. So if Ireland can bring a real enthusiasm and energy to proceedings, the Czechia players might find themselves in a difficult spot in a match that will outstrip anything in recent memory in terms of intensity.

For Ireland, the start is imperative. Don’t forget that, for all the joy that the late drama in Budapest delivered, Ireland conceded early after just three minutes and left themselves with an even greater task than initially envisaged. There’s only so much of that they can take – this performance will need to be better, and more consistent.

Josh Cullen’s absence in the midfield leaves a gaping hole, while Liam Scales is suspended so that opens up a position in the defensive unit that will have to be on their game on Thursday with Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick among the biggest threats. Pavel Sulc also made his mark last weekend, scoring for Lyon in Ligue 1.

Should Seamus Coleman play, even if he hasn’t played much this season for Everton? He hasn’t had game time for the Toffees since sustaining a hamstring injury against Manchester United in late November. It’s a valid question but given Coleman’s importance in terms of leadership and the significance of the occasion, his value in that regard outweighs concerns about match sharpness.

The midfield selection will be interesting, with Jack Taylor and Jason Knight potentially in line to feature, while the inclusion or not of Finn Azaz may also tell a tale about the Irish management team’s thoughts around the game. If Azaz is included from the start, it’ll suggest they are keen to just go for it because he’s a player with real technical ability, though his physical attributes have been questioned. Perhaps he will be held in reserve and sprung from the bench in an effort to unlock things late on, if it remains tight.

Above all though, Ireland must bring what would be considered to be the traditional traits of the Irish team all down through the years. Organisation, commitment and a full-blooded effort could bring Ireland a long way over the next week. Add in a dash of finishing quality from the likes of Parrott and Ireland could be in a very good place.

It does feel like a seismic period for Irish football. It's not too much of a stretch to say that an appearance at a World Cup finals would be transformative for men's football in this country, especially off the back of the controversy the FAI has been embroiled in over the past decade or so and how challenging that period also has been for the team.

The FAI has nailed its colours to the mast in terms of nailing down Heimir Hallgrimsson for the foreseeable future; he'll be in situ for the Euro 2028 campaign. Heading into home matches at the Euros, off the back of a World Cup appearance, is quite the prospect.

It has been a difficult time for Irish football, but the next week provides the chance for a brighter new era. It has to start on Thursday.