Lost in transition – Ireland must improve in possession says Halgrimsson

Heimir Hallgrimsson does not anticipate major changes to his style or philosophy when international football resumes in the New Year.

The Ireland manager has four months to lick his wounds after the humiliating 5-0 defeat to Wembley on Sunday, with the next international window in March 2025.

The national team will be thrown straight into a Nations League two-legged play-off as they attempt to maintain their second-tier status in the competition.

After that, the World Cup qualifying campaign will dominate the rest of the footballing year, while a September start would, at least, offer a chance to prepare throughout the June schedule with a training camp and a couple of friendly matches.

Following such a disastrous result, there will surely be calls for the manager to revisit his tactics in the quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada, however, Hallgrimsson felt that the tactics worked to a certain extent.

The plan was to control the game out of possession, by guiding England into areas where the Ireland set-up could limit their expansive game and frustrate their attacking play.

Aside from the shaky start at Wembley, Ireland did manage to employ what looked like a formidable formula, as England huffed and puffed throughout the opening 45 minutes, and looking a side frustrated by half-time.

The second half began as the first ended, and while England were on the front foot, they were not getting much joy in the Ireland final third.

Until, of course, Evan Ferguson's sloppy pass proved the catalyst for an English explosion in attack, as Jude Bellingham made the run before Harry Kane even looked at the space behind the out-of-position Ireland back-line.

But the quality followed, first from the Kane delivery,