{"id":47691,"date":"2025-09-06T17:42:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T17:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/47691\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T17:42:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T17:42:07","slug":"heimir-hallgrimssons-men-begin-world-cup-bid-in-dublin-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/47691\/","title":{"rendered":"Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson\u2019s men begin World Cup bid in Dublin \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

World Cup qualifiers: Republic of Ireland v Hungary, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm<\/p>\n

Key Reads<\/b><\/p>\n

Hungary\u2019s Italian manager Marco Rossi appears to have gone for a 4-1-4-1 set-up, but we\u2019ll see how that plays out. Three of Robbie Keane\u2019s Ferencv\u00e1ros players are included, goalkeeper D\u00e9nes Dibusz, 19-year-old midfielder Alex T\u00f3th and striker Barnab\u00e1s Varga – who has scored 10 goals for his club already this season. <\/p>\n

Full-back Milos Kerkez, Liverpool\u2019s \u20ac46 million signing from Bournemouth, starts, as, of course, does his club-mate Dominik Szoboszlai, Hungary\u2019s captain. English-born Callum Styles, a team-mate of Mikey Johnston and Jayson Molumby at West Brom, wins his 25th cap.<\/p>\n

Hungary<\/b>: D\u00e9nes Dibusz; Milos Kerkez, Attila Szalai, Willi Orb\u00e1n, Lo\u00efc N\u00e9go; Callum Styles; Roland Sallai, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alex T\u00f3th, Bendeg\u00faz Bolla; Barnab\u00e1s Varga. <\/p>\n

We have our starting line-up:<\/p>\n

\n

STARTING XI | Ireland v Hungary <\/p>\n

Ferguson, Szmodics & Azaz all start as Ireland kick-off the World Cup qualifying campaign at the Aviva Stadium tonight (KO 7:45pm) \ud83e\udd29 <\/p>\n

Be loud, be proud. Get behind the boys tonight \ud83d\udc9a\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea pic.twitter.com\/ItjqqeYf8E<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ireland Football \u26bd\ufe0f\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (@IrelandFootball) September 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We\u2019ll have to wait and see what formation Hallgr\u00edmsson opts for, but if it\u2019s a 4-4-1-1, then he\u2019ll have Jake O\u2019Brien, Nathan Collins, Dara O\u2019Shea and Matt Doherty as his back four, in front of Caoimh\u00edn Kelleher. Josh Cullen and Jason Knight are his midfielders, with Sammie Szmodics to their right and Ryan Manning on the left. Finn Azaz has been chosen to fill the slot behind Evan Ferguson.<\/p>\n

If we had this fella at the back tonight, Caoimh\u00edn Kelleher would be able to have a 90 minute nap. Loving the legend\u2019s confidence. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, it\u2019s 3-0 at half-time for Portugal away to Armenia in the opening game of their campaign in Ireland\u2019s group, Jo\u00e3o Cancelo adding the third. Hopefully Armenia will be worn out by the end of it – Ireland visit Yerevan on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Portugal are already 2-0 up away to Armenia. Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix scored after 10 minutes and a young fella by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the lead 10 minutes later. <\/p>\n

Malachy Clerkin<\/b> has done nothing for our nerves: \u201cIreland have taken part in five campaigns since the start of this decade \u2013 three Nations Leagues as well as qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Euros. Not only have they lost their first home game each time, they haven\u2019t scored a goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cripes.<\/p>\n

You have plenty of reading to do before kick-off, some are linked above, but here is your full menu.<\/p>\n

Gavin Cummiskey<\/b> previews the game, and takes a stab at predicting the shape of Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson\u2019s line-up. <\/p>\n

[\u00a0Ireland vs Hungary preview: Just how important is tonight\u2019s game for World Cup chances?Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Ken Early<\/b> writes about \u201cthe biggest international match Dublin has hosted in nearly eight years\u201d. <\/p>\n

[\u00a0Jack Charlton would not have been surprised by what Heimir is asking of Ireland teamOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Malachy Clerkin<\/b> looks at the impact Hallgr\u00edmsson has had in his 14 months in charge so far.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson has given Ireland hope, but now is the moment to follow throughOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Gordon Manning<\/b> takes us on a trip down memory lane.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Victory against Hungary cleared the path to Italia 90. Life would never be the sameOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Kevin Kilbane<\/b> says Ireland\u2019s hopes in this campaign may rest on a certain Roma striker.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Ireland\u2019s chance of success falls on Evan Ferguson\u2019s shouldersOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

James McDermott<\/b> takes us through the history of Republic of Ireland v Hungary meetings.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Recent history bodes well for Hallgr\u00edmsson\u2019s men ahead of World Cup qualifierOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

And Michael Walker<\/b> profiles Dominik Szoboszlai, the Hungarian captain.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Limiting Dominik Szoboszlai triple threat key if Ireland are to hamper HungaryOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Szoboszlai is reasonably good at free-kicks too.<\/p>\n

Afternoon all<\/b>, are you ready for the start of the Republic of Ireland\u2019s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign? No? Well, you\u2019d want to get a move on because it kicks off at 7.45 this evening at a sold-out Aviva Stadium (live on RT\u00c92). Hungary are the first opponents on the road to \u2026. hopefully \u2026. the United States\/Canada\/Mexico next summer. <\/p>\n

With world rankings in brackets, Ireland (60) were drawn in group F with Portugal (6), Hungary (38) and Armenia (105). These are their fixtures:<\/p>\n

Today<\/b>: RoI v Hungary, Dublin; September 9<\/b>: Armenia v RoI, Yerevan; October 11<\/b>: Portugal v RoI, Lisbon; October 14<\/b>: RoI v Armenia, Dublin; November 13<\/b>: RoI v Portugal, Dublin; November 16<\/b>: Hungary v RoI, Budapest.<\/p>\n

The group winners automatically qualify for the World Cup, the runners-up go into the play-offs next March where they\u2019ll have to conquer two nations to qualify.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a third route to those play-offs that involves how you fared in the Nations League, but even Archimedes would struggle to understand the permutations. Those who can make sense of them say Ireland\u2019s chances of prevailing on that front are exceedingly slim. <\/p>\n

So, we\u2019ll stick with needing to win the group or, a heap more realistically, taking second place. Portugal – who kick off against Armenia in Yerevan at 5.0 today – are, naturally, favourites to top it, which, barring any catastrophes against Armenia, means Ireland and Hungary will slug it out for the runners-up spot. Which makes tonight\u2019s game mahoosive.<\/p>\n