One thing is clear even before Friday’s draw: Heimir Hallgrímsson’s team need to improve to reach the tournament
One thing is clear even before Friday’s draw: Heimir Hallgrímsson’s team need to improve to reach the tournament
The extent of that hope will be largely determined by the luck of the draw. The last time Ireland qualified for the World Cup, in 2002, they did so the hard way in a group, qualifying from a group that featured Portugal and the Netherlands, preventing Louis van Gaal’s Dutch team from making the finals on the back of reaching the Euro 2000 semi-finals.
Ireland can be drawn into a four- or a five-team group for the 48-team tournament, which has 16 European places. Due to involvement in the Nations League promotion/relegation play-off, the chance of being in a group of four is increased, as a group of five can only hold one Nations League finals participant or one Nations League relegation play-off participant.
Ireland’s best players are heading towards their peak years. Nathan Collins is 23 years old and thriving at Brentford in the top 10 of the Premier League, while Caoimhín Kelleher has been in superb form in Alisson’s absence at Liverpool. Troy Parrott recently scored against Ajax for AZ Alkmaar, and although Evan Ferguson is struggling for game time at Brighton, his performances in the Nations League showed his promise.
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