Heimir Hallgrimsson is convinced Ireland can mirror his old Iceland team by qualifying for the World Cup.
Hallgrimsson is entering the final stages of his contract as Republic of Ireland manager. His deal expires when the World Cup qualifiers end - either in November after the group campaign, or at the playoffs in March.
Ireland face Portugal, Hungary and Armenia with the group winner progressing to the 2026 finals, and the runner-up going to the playoffs.
Hallgrimsson is at peace with his contractual situation, and accepts that he should be judged by results alone. But he is confident of qualifying for next year’s tournament in America, Canada and Mexico and said last night: “I plan for success.
“If you plan for success then you shouldn't talk differently. I hope I'm not offending anyone but this is how we should all think - ‘we are going there’. Everything can happen of course. We can be unlucky in games, with injuries or whatever, but we plan for success.”
Quizzed on his future, Hallgrimsson said: “We all know this is a game of results. But we plan to go to the World Cup, end of story. We're not even thinking of something else.”
Hallgrimsson was Iceland manager when they qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, drawing 1-1 with Argentina in their opening game.
They failed to get out of their group after subsequent defeats to Nigeria and Croatia, and could not repeat the Euro 2016 quarter-final run under Hallgrimsson in 2016.
But he reckons Ireland can punch above their weight in this World Cup mission, just like Iceland did when they qualified.
“Hungary, us and even Portugal will share points at some time so I think it gives us more chance to progress,” said Hallgrimsson. "With Iceland, we didn't have the best players, they were not playing at the highest quality but we qualified.
"That kind of experience gives me hope because I see a lot of similarities with this squad, even with players playing here at a higher level than we had in Iceland. I really think we have a good chance if we stick together, we believe and we work as one."
June’s upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg afford Hallgrimsson a final chance to experiment ahead of September's World Cup kickoff.
In naming his squad yesterday, he left out most of the Championship players - including March’s star Finn Azaz - as he doesn't want to risk injury.
Hallgrimsson said: "I know it's different, leaving out good players, but we need everyone fit and flying. If we have everyone flying in September, October, November, we have a much better chance of qualifying for the World Cup."
And Hallgrimsson insists his players are also starting to believe that they can qualify for the World Cup.
“I know there hasn't been a lot of confidence in the team, but we feel that is growing and our last camp was probably the best one,” he added. "There was belief, confidence and energy in the squad and long may that continue.”
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