Still early days but green shoots are sprouting

Whisper it quietly, but the Irish football team looks to be moving in the right direction.

Last Friday’s draw with Senegal represented another decent outing for the Boys in Green as they build towards the World Cup qualifying campaign in the autumn, with the opening game against Hungary at the Aviva Stadium set to be a pivotal fixture in the context of the overall group.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s appointment generated a strange atmosphere in footballing circles, because no one really knew what to expect. An obscure name that few, if any, had linked to the job prior to the appointment, there was also a sense of indifference to the Iceland native coming in because the national team had been at such a low ebb.

Having gotten his feet under the desk and overcome some early communication mishaps, Hallgrimsson is now putting a clear stamp on the team. And, what we are seeing is positive. It hasn’t been revolutionary stuff, but more a return to the practical elements of the game.

Ireland look more solid defensively, and that was evident on Friday night against a Senegal side that had very few chances bar their goal.

If you were to ask football observers from overseas what was the hallmark of Irish sides over the years, being tough to play against would come pretty close to top of the list in terms of a catch-all phrase to describe the footballing DNA on these shores. Under Stephen Kenny’s reign, there was a distinct shift in emphasis to trying to play a more expansive game with more possession. It was a commendable approach from Kenny to try and implement a more technical style of play, but ultimately Ireland just couldn’t get anywhere with that style.

That’s not to say Ireland hasn’t, or doesn’t, have good ball players, but international football, with such a limited time in which to work with players, demands a slightly different approach to that at club level. Gareth Southgate came in for massive criticism as England boss for their conservative style, yet he was the country’s most successful manager since Alf Ramsey.

There was a period in which possession football was the ‘cool’ thing to do. Pep Guardiola’s reign at Barcelona typified that and the culture spread, but even that is evolving into something different now. Ireland need to cut their cloth according to the players they have and, at the back, there’s plenty to be happy about.

Caoimhin Kelleher’s recent move to Brentford – now a solid Premier League club with reasonable ambitions to reach Europe in the coming years – underlines his credentials, while he’ll team up with Nathan Collins in West London.

Ipswich Town may have been relegated but few excelled as much in a defence under pressure as Dara O’Shea. Likewise, Jake O’Brien is fulfilling his potential under David Moyes at Everton while the likes of Andrew Omobamidele, if he can get a run free of injuries, also offers a lot at the back.

Midfield has been a consistent problem for Ireland over the last decade, and up front there’s a lack of goals with Evan Ferguson not quite cutting the mustard at present. But, Adam Idah has excelled at Celtic since his move there – and if that continues into next season it can only be good for his confidence – while Troy Parrott looks to be re-born thanks to his move to the Dutch Eredivisie to play with AZ Alkmaar.

So, all of those things considered, Ireland aren’t in a bad position.

Having problems in midfield is an issue, without question, but a more pragmatic approach to the game, where players in the centre of the park aren’t asked as much of, can have a positive impact.

Tonight’s friendly against Luxembourg won’t get the juices flowing for the vast majority of the footballing public, but it’s a good chance for Ireland to get a win on the board, further settle into the way Hallgrimsson wants them to play and boost confidence levels again before players depart.

Hallgrimsson has said on a couple of occasions in the media that he expects Ireland to qualify for next year’s World Cup. Many have scoffed at that, and it may be slightly tongue in cheek for a side ranked 60th in the world and facing the daunting European qualifying process, but we can be a bit more optimistic now than we were. Portugal, Hungary and Armenia is a manageable group for Ireland.

The Portuguese remain a good side, but don’t forget Ireland’s best away display under Stephen Kenny came against Cristiano Ronaldo et al in Faro. Ireland beat Hungary in a friendly under the interim stewardship of John O’Shea last summer and Armenia, while a tricky proposition, are ranked at 102nd in the world.

A second place finish in the group is a realistic target – and that’s why the opening fixture, at home to Hungary, is so pivotal. Win there, and you can start to think about something better than what has gone before in the more recent qualifying campaigns.

Over recent weeks, many people have been talking on social media about the anniversary of significant moments for the Boys in Green during the 2002 World Cup. For my generation, which missed out on the experience of being alive during Italia 90, that was the touch paper that lit a passion for following our national team. Perhaps, with the tentative positive steps being taken, the youngsters of today clamouring for something to cling onto can start to believe anything is possible.