Heimir Hallgrimsson believes that the weight of wearing the Ireland jersey is affecting players' confidence following Tuesday night’s defeat to Greece.
The 2-0 loss at the Aviva Stadium made it back-to-back losses for the new manager and Hallgrimsson reckons that it all comes down to confidence, or lack there of, as he reflected on the game at the post-match press conference.
Overall, the manager was actually quite positive after the game – most notably compared to the mood following Saturday’s defeat to England – and he felt that there was a lot of good things to take into next month’s international window.
And it would be hard to argue with Hallgrimsson based on the overall performance in what was just the second game of his tenure.
Saturday’s disastrous debut against England was atoned for somewhat, as the new-look Ireland side appeared to play with confidence and cohesion throughout the opening 45 minutes.
Hallgrimsson selected three centre-halves, however, he set the team up with four at the back, asking Andrew Omobamidele to slot in at right back with Nathan Collins taking the captain’s armband in Seamus Coleman’s absence through injury.
Four also across the middle with Will Smallbone tasked with linking play between midfield and the solitary striker, Sammie Szmodics, who offered an energetic outlet from the opening exchanges.
Greece’s main threat was expected to come from the dynamic Kostas Tsimikas, and Ireland were well covered in that department with Omobamidele and Chiedozie Ogbene both possessing the pace to cope with the Liverpool wide man.
The new-look formation resulted in a compact and well-organised unit as Ireland nullified the Greece threat throughout the first half and showed composure, and even a touch of confidence, creating chances, while maintaining possession for large spells.
The first goal was a real blast from the past, however, as a breakdown in communication along the back line allowed Fotis Ioannidis the time and space to pick his spot with another long-range concession to add to the catalogue of such scenarios from recent years.
But even still, Ireland reacted well, pushed for an equaliser and enjoyed a large spell of pressure in and around the Greece box. However, the quality inside the final third was lacking as Hallgrimsson emptied the bench inside the final 30 minutes.
There was still three minutes, and five additional, remaining as Ireland looked to take something from the game, but again they were caught napping at the back and there was no way back once Christos Tzolis smashed home the second.
"It was tough conceding that first goal," said Hallgrimsson. "I thought we played pretty well in the first-half. It was good from the eyes of organisation, compactness, nullifying what the Greeks were doing. We didn’t give them chances and we had good options when we were going forward, even our passing was pretty slick."
"It’s this confidence thing," he added.
"It feels like the jersey is too heavy for some players. When they put them on, they don’t show the same quality as they do maybe in their clubs. So we need to change that."
Joint bottom of Group 2 alongside Finland, while England and Greece have both opened with six points from their two games played.
Ireland now travel to Finland for what could effectively be regarded as a six-pointer regarding the battle to stay in the second tier of the competition.
"Don’t write us off just yet," said the coach, not yet ready to concede that a relegation battle looms going into the final four games.
"My job is to try to turn this around," he said. "Nobody told me it was going to be an easy job. I know it is going to take time. I think the first step is positive even though we lost these two games.
"It is what it is. We have two games in about a month, so we just need to look forward and not be too negative. We just need to work, looking at what we did good and try to build on that.
"Confidence comes with knowing your team-mate, confidence comes from knowing if you do something your team-mate will cover you, if you are in a position, you know exactly what you’re team-mate is doing.
"That kind of connection is lacking. The solution is to find that connection, that understanding, between the players. Because at this level, the slightest mistake can cost you the game.
"I want to emphasise, from England to this game I felt much better. The organisation is emerging, and it’s working step by step on that."
Greece manager Ivan Jovanovic has had the opposite experience to Hallgrimsson, winning his first two games in charge after following up Thursday's 3-0 victory over Finland.
Greece are top of the group on goal difference after back-to-back wins.
"I don't think that after two matches that the table plays a big role. What matters is that we improve from game to game," the Serbian said afterwards.
"A positive mentality makes the situation easier for me and for our planning for the next fixtures.
"The important thing is that the players themselves are waiting for the October matches to come to play with the national team again."
Greece face group favourites England, and Ireland again, next month.
"We have practised daily to face better opponents, so this isn’t an exception," he said. "Going forward, we can’t choose our opponents.
"We have to play whoever we’re up against. That means playing harder and tougher opponents anyway. That’s in the schedule."
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
