Heimir Hallgrimsson Hails Ireland's Comeback Win Over Finland

Heimir Hallgrimsson the Republic of Ireland manager believes Thursday’s dramatic victory over Finland can significantly boost his team’s confidence. After suffering defeats in their opening Nations League matches against England and Greece, the Irish faced the possibility of a third loss when Joel Pohjanpalo capitalized on Nathan Collins’ error.

However, Liam Scales equalized early in the second half and Robbie Brady secured a late winner marking the Republic’s first victory under Hallgrimsson’s leadership. This win marked the first time in 11 years that the Republic came from behind to win a competitive match. Hallgrimsson expressed his satisfaction with the result, stating, “It’s always good to get a win for confidence and this game will definitely help them.”

He noted improvements during training sessions and emphasized that the players showed better synchronization on the pitch. While he was pleased with the performance, Hallgrimsson acknowledged that there is still room for improvement. He reflected on the first half where one mistake led to a goal for Finland but he praised the team for their stronger play toward the end of the half.

Hallgrimsson appreciated the defense’s effort, stating, “We didn’t give them a lot of goalscoring chances… Overall, I think we should be happy with the performance.” He also commended Collins, who wore the captain’s armband for the match, for how he handled his mistake. “We cannot criticize anyone for making a mistake,” he said, adding that the team remained positive despite the early setback.

Looking ahead, Heimir Hallgrimsson recognized the challenge posed by their next opponent, Greece, who recently stunned England. “It is a difficult game in three days,” he warned, emphasizing the need for his players to rest and prepare.