Heimir Hallgrimsson believes the Republic of Ireland should maintain their strategy from their last World Cup qualifier against Portugal. Despite a narrow 1-0 loss to Roberto Martinez's team, Hallgrimsson is
confident in their approach. Ruben Neves scored a late goal at Estadio Jose Alvalade, but Ireland's defensive effort was notable, with Portugal having an expected goals (xG) total of 2.97 from 30 shots compared to Ireland's 0.1 from two attempts.
Portugal has been dominant in qualifying matches, winning 15 of their last 16 for major tournaments. They drew 2-2 against Hungary recently but have won their last seven away games with an aggregate score of 23-2. A victory at Aviva Stadium will secure their spot in FIFA's flagship tournament for the seventh time in a row.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher during the match, with the Brentford goalkeeper making five crucial saves. Following this defeat, Ireland secured a 1-0 win over Armenia, placing them third in Group F, just one point behind Hungary with two qualifiers remaining.
Hallgrimsson stated that Ireland cannot afford to play recklessly against Portugal. "Our approach is not going to change," he said. "We need to play a certain style against Portugal, whether we need a win or a draw. " He emphasised that it won't be an open game and that calculated risks may be necessary if they need to score later.
Ireland has shown resilience at home, winning three of their last five matches there. They aim to win consecutive home World Cup qualifiers for the first time since February 2009. With only one point separating them from Hungary in the group, a positive result is vital as Hungary faces Armenia earlier on Thursday.
Hallgrimsson expects Portugal to make minor adjustments since they didn't create many scoring opportunities previously. "They probably will tweak a few things," he noted. "They had some shots from outside the box, some crosses, but I think we kind of controlled how they attacked us. "
The Stakes Against Portugal
The upcoming match against Portugal is crucial for Ireland's World Cup hopes. Hallgrimsson acknowledged its significance: "This is probably the one that has the most riding on it. " However, he admitted that its importance depends on Hungary's result against Armenia.
The final group encounter between Ireland and Hungary takes place this Sunday. Hallgrimsson remains cautious about predicting outcomes until after Thursday's game results are known. Nonetheless, he recognises that securing at least one point could be essential for their World Cup aspirations.
