Finn Azaz is convinced that the Republic of Ireland can use the pain of their defeat in Armenia to help reignite the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign.
The shock of the 2-1 loss in Yerevan left most commentators and critics writing off the team’s chances of making it to next summer’s tournament, however, when the September dust eventually settled, the group table revealed a viable path to the play-offs.
Results elsewhere in the group suggest that Portugal are going to romp through in the automatic qualifying place, while Armenia have played their way into the conversation for second place.
With four games now remaining, Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side can get themselves firmly back in the picture by picking up three points at home next Tuesday, while attempting to snatch something from the highly rated Portugal side in Lisbon on Saturday evening.
"We all know that we’ve let people down, let ourselves down," said Azaz, speaking to the media earlier this week. "Now it’s just a case of looking towards the next two games to put it right and that’s the feeling right now. There is an anger there to put things right.
"We know it wasn’t good enough and we’re feeling we can really make a statement and put it right.
"It really hurt us and me personally, feeling that we’ve let a lot of people down, the fans, the staff and ourselves really. I’d say there is real motivation now to put it right."
As for the performance in Armenia, Azaz believes that the team were punished for lapses in concentration at key moments, while he also feels that the confidence that the team took into the game after drawing with Hungary may have had a detrimental effect.
And Azaz feels that there is no one to blame for the result other than the players, as they had been given the information and the template to secure the result.
"We, as players, we need to take responsibility," he said. "The performances ahead of the two games, the training, the set-up, everything was there for us, to be honest.
"I felt we had a lot of confidence going into those last two games and it was really disappointing, and that is why we are just really motivated to put it right in the next two games.
"The wins against Bulgaria, the improved performances and results leading up to that game… Maybe there was a lack of understanding of the challenge we were coming up against away to Armenia in terms of the occasion, the environment and in term of them as players.
"We weren’t at our levels. I don’t want to give excuses in terms of this and that, but maybe that is part of it."
"Lapses in concentration at the wrong moments and managing the game," added Azaz, when asked what did go wrong in Armenia.
"We were on the pitch, so we need to take responsibility and be better. But we can’t dwell on what went wrong now, we have to look forward, look to Saturday as the first opportunity to eliminate those mistakes and put in a top, top performance."
A tough task awaits in Lisbon as Azaz & Co look to atone for the dreadful showing in Yerevan, but the Southampton man is convinced that if the team can eliminate the crucial mistakes from their performance, they possess the quality to compete at this level.
"The mistakes at certain times have cost us against Hungary and against Armenia, so definitely eliminating those and making sure the concentration is there," said Azaz.
"Without those mistakes, I think we’d give ourselves a really good chance. I think we have a lot of quality in the squad, you can see that at club [level], and when I’m at training I can see it. Getting that right is fundamental."
As a result, Azaz feels that the belief remains in the squad, however, there remains a sense of underachievement in the team based on the results of the last few years.
"Absolutely. Look at the table, you can see that, with that draw against Hungary there’s still a great chance and there’s that anger and that motivation to start with Saturday and then look to the next game.
"I wouldn’t say I have been in this position before, especially at this level and with this much expectation. It hasn’t been hard for me to say that; I just think it’s the truth, and it’s an honest reflection of how I feel and the vibe I’m getting from the rest of the team as well is that there is that feeling of just that hurt.
"We can’t dwell on that kind of pain, we have to try to use it and I think it is a testament to the mentality of all of us as a collective."
Azaz agreed that an Ireland win in Portugal would be a bigger shock than our loss in Armenia, but he is looking forward to testing himself and his creativity against one of the most technically impressive sides in Europe, who could find themselves qualified by the end of the October window.
"For me, these are the best opportunities to show and showcase that you can compete with those players. A lot of people will think, 'ah, those are the big players’, but for me I’m motivated to show that I can compete with them and that will match the mentality from the other lads.
"I feel like my role as a creative player, the manager has kind of given me that space and that freedom. And I’ve just wanted to bring that 'how can I help this team create more chances? How can I adapt and have the best impact in this game?’ and that’s my sole focus."
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