Ireland's Heimir Hallgrimsson calls for aggressive playstyle ahead of matches
- Ireland's football team, led by Heimir Hallgrimsson, faced difficulties in their Nations League matches, particularly in the first halves.
- The team managed a comeback win against Finland but lost 2-0 to Greece, prompting Hallgrimsson to call for a change in mentality.
- O'Shea acknowledged the need for time to adapt to Hallgrimsson's methods, emphasizing the importance of achieving results soon.
In October 2024, Heimir Hallgrimsson's Republic of Ireland football team faced challenges during a Nations League double-header, struggling particularly in the first halves of their matches. They managed to come back from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 against Finland but suffered a 2-0 defeat in Greece. Hallgrimsson noted that his team only seemed to perform well when they were under pressure, suggesting a need for a shift in mentality to start games with more aggression. He humorously proposed that they might consider playing the second half first to change their approach. The coach emphasized the importance of building confidence and correcting mistakes while focusing on the team's traditional strengths of organization and hard work. Defender Dara O'Shea acknowledged the need for time to adapt to Hallgrimsson's methods, which differ from the previous coach Stephen Kenny's more expansive style. O'Shea highlighted the potential of their attacking players and the necessity of getting results quickly as they adjust to the new tactics.