In a world where Troy Parrott does not make a perfectly-timed run into a Budapest penalty area, this evening's gathering in Brussels would be laying out the roadmap for the Irish international year.
Portugal, the reigning Nations League champions, are unbeaten in five matches and have started qualifying in ruthless fashion, thrashing Armenia 5-0 before beating Hungary 3-2 in early September. Meanwhile, Ireland, under the management of Heimir Hallgrimsson, are winless in four and have so far picked up just one point in Group F following a 2-2 draw with Hungary and 2-1 defeat to Armenia.
Ireland travelled to Lisbon in hope 30 years ago and suffered a heavy defeat that brought an end to the golden years The coup de g râce for the Jack Charlton era came on a football field in England as a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands in a one-leg play-off for Euro '96 ended in defeat. But the most damaging blow to his time as manager came in Lisbon 30 years ago, a 3-0 capitulation to Portugal, one of the worst nights from those starry times.
"Yeah I spoke to them, they spoke to every Tom, Dick, and Harry, but even that was a farce. The amount of people who have come out in the last six months that said they were offered the job. But that's the FAI, I've said it before, they couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery. It's sad, it's a long way back. But the FAI as well need to get their house in order."
Sammie Szmodics is out of Ireland's World Cup qualifier in Armenia on Tuesday, with Shamrock Rovers defender Josh Honohan called up to take his place on the plane Szmodics started last night's 2-2 draw with Hungary but the Ipswich player has sustained a knock which has forced his withdrawal. He was making his return to the Irish set up after missing the previous four games.
Breaking | Seámus Coleman has been left out of the Ireland squad for next month's opening World Cup qualifying double-header, as Heimir Hallgrimsson named his 23-man squad this morning. The Ireland boss said in May that he was hopeful the Everton captain would return for the crunch fixtures against Hungary and Armenia, but despite now being fit, there is no place in the squad for the 73-times capped defender.
It's been an incredible season for me in the Netherlands, and receiving that call from Heimir gave me a lot of motivation to keep pushing.
