Ireland lean – Heimir Hallgrimsson says Troy Parrott is in contention after individual work following an early exit in AZ Alkmaar’s last match, as Ireland prepare to face Qatar tonight at Aviva Stadium with an experienced starting group. The squad has been reshaped by multip
When Republic of Ireland take on Qatar at Aviva Stadium tonight at 7.45pm, the plan is blunt and purposeful: start with experience, then build preparation into the next step.
Heimir Hallgrimsson confirmed at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference at FAI HQ that this friendly is the first of two fixtures in the current window. Ireland will follow it with a trip to Montreal to face Canada at the end of next week. with Hallgrimsson already targeting that match for more experimentation.
“Given the time we have, more or less this is the only day we have a proper training with everybody ready and fit, so we will go for experience (tonight), and start with the ones that have been with us before,” Hallgrimsson said.
He added that the Qatar game can still offer opportunities—particularly for those who need minutes in order to strengthen their case as the autumn Nations League approaches. “It gives us then another week to prepare the younger guys for the Canada match,” he said. “Hopefully we can give some of them some time on the pitch (tonight). but given this is a strong opponent going for the World Cup. I know them very well. I know we need experience when we play them, so we go for that.”.
The most prominent name in that discussion is Troy Parrott. Hallgrimsson said the AZ Alkmaar striker should be able to play a part against a Qatar side led by former Real Madrid, Spain, Wolves and West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.
Parrott had been forced off after 37 minutes in the final Eredivisie game of the season on 17 May. Hallgrimsson explained that decision and how it affected the rest of his workload.
“Troy was taken off early in his last game and sat out the final game of the season. ” his international manager said. “But he is OK. he did some individual training (on Tuesday) and then he came and joined the training. just (for) assessment. We’ll take it carefully with him but he’s fit and everybody is fit.”.
The message from the manager was consistent even as the squad itself has been anything but static. By Monday, the original selection had to be reshaped after a host of withdrawals.
In defence, in-form Strasbourg defender Andrew Omobamidele was ruled out due to injury, while Southampton left-back Ryan Manning will also not be involved. The central midfield area has been hit hardest.
Middlesbrough duo Alan Browne and Alex Gilbert are unavailable, along with Southampton’s Finn Azaz, after an eventful run in the Championship play-offs. Bohemians’ Dawson Devoy and Charlton Athletic’s Conor Coventry will also only link up with the squad in the build-up to Canada.
Those absences have created a real opening for players who have been watching the squad list change in real time. With plans for the Qatar game now falling into place, Killian Phillips of St Mirren and Hibernian’s Jamie McGrath are in line to start alongside Jayson Molumby.
Hallgrimsson described Phillips and McGrath as “both good options”, adding that he had initially left them out of the original squad.
Molumby, meanwhile, is only going to be involved against Qatar. He had been part of the training camp and friendly against Grenada in Murcia earlier in May.
Hallgrimsson said he had absolutely no issue with players who have withdrawn, pointing to the valid reasons behind their non-availability. Still, he framed the disruption as a chance for the next rung of players to move closer.
“It just gives opportunities for those who are in and it’s our job to work with those players,” he said. “So we’re just focusing on them, we’re not thinking about those who couldn’t come for one reason or another.”
He also talked about how opportunity can land unpredictably in football. “That’s the negative side of not coming. being injured. you give others an opportunity to play and shine and hopefully like (what) happened in Spain. the likes of Jack Moylan coming in. grabbing his opportunity now. and getting another chance to impress. ” Hallgrimsson said. “That’s football, it’s about moments, being ready when the opportunity comes. You can lose and win your opportunity in the future so just be ready.”.
Devoy, one of four League of Ireland call-ups, is part of that wider picture. Hallgrimsson said he did get to watch Devoy and Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty during Monday’s Dublin derby at Dalymount Park.
“It was an entertaining match. Competitive, physical, maybe aesthetically not the best football match we’ve seen. But it was good fun. a good atmosphere and then there’s chaos at the end just to top if off. ” Hallgrimsson said. referring to Rovers’ last-gasp 2-1 win and the tempestuous scenes that followed between the clubs’ players and officials.
“No, it was lovely. Happy with the players that we picked. Both played well that game. (Devoy) has been one of the best players in the league and that’s why we picked him.”
The immediate stakes are clear for tonight’s match: Qatar arrive as a strong World Cup opponent. and Ireland are preparing with experience at the centre of their first move in this window. After that. Hallgrimsson has the younger options in view for Canada—turning one friendly into a stepping stone. and a reshuffled squad into a statement of intent about what comes next.
Ireland vs Qatar Aviva Stadium Heimir Hallgrimsson Troy Parrott AZ Alkmaar Julen Lopetegui Jack Moylan Killian Phillips Jamie McGrath Jayson Molumby Andrew Omobamidele Ryan Manning Alan Browne Alex Gilbert Finn Azaz Dawson Devoy Conor Coventry Ed McGinty Canada friendly