Jason Knight admits that only a miracle in Lisbon can keep alive the Republic of Ireland's World Cup hopes after the disastrous defeat away to Armenia.
After the topsy-turvy comeback draw with Hungary last weekend, it was hoped Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side would offer more of their second-half performance that salvaged a draw in Dublin for the trip to Yerevan.
What transpired was something more akin to the first-half effort against the Hungarians, as the side ranked 105th in the world were full value for the 2-1 win. Indeed were it not for another excellent outing from goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, the scoreline could have been far worse.
A point from the opening two games means, barring an unlikely sequence of results, Ireland will not be among the 48 teams competing at next year’s World Cup.
As expected, Portugal lead the way in Group F with maximum points, though it required a late goal from Joao Cancelo to see off Hungary. The world number six side look to have a firm grip on top spot, with Armenia now occupying the play-off spot.
Ireland and Hungary have a point apiece, but with Hungary concluding the group at home to Ireland yet to face Armenia, are well-placed to finish above the Boys in Green.
With Armenia upsetting the odds and claiming three points, it means the task facing Hallgrimsson is stark; a win next time out in Portugal before welcoming Armenia to Dublin three days later.
Midfielder Jason Knight described the performance in Yerevan as "shocking" and says they need to pull off a massive result in October against Ronaldo and co.
"It’s a really, really poor performance and result," he said when asked about the defeat to Armenia.
"It’s not the level we expect from ourselves. The basics were really poor.
"Shocking result, shocking performance.
"We need a miraculous result in Portugal, but it's not done yet. We need to show what we are about as footballers and people when we come back in October."
Jason Knight felt Ireland were no where near the standards that they expect of themselves in losing to Armenia #ARMIRL #COYBIG #rtesport pic.twitter.com/aRJojJeANN
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 9, 2025
After a tricky first-half against Hungary last Saturday, it was another difficult night at the office for captain Nathan Collins at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium.
He was given the run around at times by Tigran Barseghyan and Lucas Zelarayan – it was the Brentford man’s trip on the latter that resulted in the Armenia penalty - and lost Grant-Leon Ranos in the box for the home side's second goal.
"Armenia were the better team, and that’s nowhere near where our standards should be," he told RTÉ Sport.
"It's just a lot of disappointment, frustration, anger. I’m one to try to contain my emotions, but it’s just so frustrating.
"It just hurts, I feel like it’s a massive cut to the stomach, it hurts a lot. I just thought they were better than us on the day and as a team, that shouldn’t be happening for us."
A shellshocked Nathan Collins was finding it hard to put his finger on why Ireland were so poor against Armenia #ARMIRL #COYBIG #rtesport pic.twitter.com/jzroRvUJTs
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 9, 2025
Ireland have not qualified for the World Cup finals since 2002 and last made it to a major tournament at Euro 2016.
If they are to end that run – Hallgrimsson admitted that might take "a miracle" in the wake of the defeat in Yerevan – it seems likely that they will have to win their next fixture, October’s daunting trip to Portugal.
Four years ago, they led the same opponents 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Faro with 89 minutes gone only for Cristiano Ronaldo (below) to score twice in what time remained to snatch victory, before the return match in Dublin finished goalless.
Since then, Portugal have played 22 matches at home, losing on just three occasions with Serbia, Spain and Croatia leaving with victories.
That sequence includes a friendly victory over the Boys in Green last year in a 3-0 scoreline that flattered the visitors, with Ronaldo bagging another brace.
Collins said: "If we win in Portugal, does everything change again? That’s what we have to do. It has to be the mentality, it has to be the looking forward to that game.
"It’s the only thing we can do now. I don’t want to think it’s dream over, I don’t want to think like that right now.
"Sometimes we are better against a bigger team. We’ve caused Portugal a lot of frustration previously in different campaigns. I don’t see why we can’t.
"There is a chance there for us and that’s all I’m clinging onto at the moment."
Josh Cullen insisted it is the players who need to look at themselves, saying: "We’re the ones that are wearing the shirt, we’re the ones that can be picked to represent our country, we’re the ones that need to improve when we get together and make sure that we improve.
"It’s been going on for too long now. I’m pretty embarrassed to keep coming out and having to say the same thing. We need to look at ourselves and improve.
"We have to dust ourselves down and go again. It’s going to be hard. This hurts, hurts a lot, but we have to go again. We have to rebuild that confidence."
Hallgrimsson’s contract runs until the end of the World Cup campaign, which now appears to conclude in November rather than next summer in North America.
Asked whether he still had faith in the manager and his backroom team, Knight said: "100%. It’s not down to them. They have been really good to us and put a lot of faith in what we want to do."
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