Ireland vs Senegal: Hallgrimsson Reacts to Draw | Football News
- Leicester City's McAteer marked his first international start with a goal in Dublin, rewarding coach Hallgrimsson's confidence.
- He highlighted McAteer's confidence and ability to challenge opponents, leading to his goal.
- "He showed a lot of confidence, took players on and got the goal as a reward," Hallgrimsson said."I'm really happy for him."
Leicester City’s McAteer Nets Goal for Ireland in Dublin Debut
Leicester City’s McAteer marked his first international start with a goal in Dublin, rewarding coach Hallgrimsson’s confidence. The Republic of Ireland is gearing up for World Cup qualifying.
Hallgrimsson lauded the 23-year-old’s impactful debut. He highlighted McAteer’s confidence and ability to challenge opponents, leading to his goal.
“He showed a lot of confidence, took players on and got the goal as a reward,” Hallgrimsson said.”I’m really happy for him.”
Ireland faces Luxembourg on Tuesday in their final amiable before the World Cup qualifying campaign begins. they will compete against Portugal, Hungary, and armenia for a spot in the tournament.
Hallgrimsson aims to maintain the team’s momentum from their three-match unbeaten streak into Tuesday’s friendly and the subsequent World Cup bid. The team’s recent performances have boosted confidence for the upcoming challenges.
“The big thing from this game is we can play top teams,” he added, emphasizing the team’s ability to compete at a high level.
Hallgrimsson expressed disappointment at not securing a win but acknowledged the team’s strong performance against a formidable opponent. He noted their success in limiting the opposition’s scoring opportunities.
“We are disappointed not to win the game tonight, and at times we made them look an average team,” Hallgrimsson said.
He added, “I’m mostly happy with how we dealt with their possession game, we limited their goalscoring chances and when you play good teams that’s an absolute priority.”
Hallgrimsson concluded, “If you look at where we are at the moment, and what run they are on I think we should be happy with the performance of the players tonight,” highlighting the team’s progress and potential.
What’s next
Ireland will face Luxembourg in a friendly match before beginning their world Cup qualifying campaign against Portugal, Hungary, and Armenia. The team aims to build on their recent performances and secure a spot in the tournament.