In this video
- Asked for team news, the Ireland manager said he is pretty happy with the squad and all have been training. The one player who came in with a slight injury has since trained fully.
- Asked what makes him confident Ireland will qualify, the manager said he thinks they have a strong team, improving tactically every camp. There is more individual quality than when he had Iceland.
- Asked about a race for second with Hungary, the manager said that is natural, but he thinks points will be dropped in more places. With six games in 70 days, it is a sprint, and it is nice to lead.
- Asked if Evan Ferguson can re-establish himself after a difficult season, the manager said he thinks the move is good for him. If he brings his good early-season form, he can show it here too.
- Asked if he had imagined captaining Ireland at a World Cup, the Ireland defender said not really. It all starts on Saturday, and his focus is on preparing to get off to a good start.
“…it looks like they're taller today than when I came a year ago.”
- Asked about handling the pressure, the defender said it is pressure from people supporting them, which is a lot healthier. Reading too much into it can only harm you.
- Asked how he prepares, as a defender, for one Hungary player, the defender called him a hell of a player who orchestrates a lot. But it is a team game, and he will use his teammates.
Ireland vs Hungary match build-up from the Ireland press conference ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
This Ireland press conference outlines the plan for Ireland vs Hungary and how the group race shapes up in the World Cup qualifiers.
• Ireland Mindset & leadership: energy rising, more leaders stepping up; players secure in roles and messages.
• Underdog edge: focus on being “best in a few areas rather than doing average in all.
• Crowd factor: sold-out home support asked to be the “12th man” and create the atmosphere, not just enjoy it.
• Team notes: coach happy with the squad; selection kept under wraps after training-ground assessments.
• Group context: Portugal Group; Ireland-Hungary seen as pivotal in a short, six-game sprint where dropped points elsewhere will matter.
• Opposition view: respect for Hungary’s collective understanding and quick combinations; avoid set-pieces.
