Heimir Hallgrimsson has once again urged his side to maintain their collective approach to today's game in Budapest.
Ireland are taking on Hungary for a place in the World Cup play-offs in March knowing that a victory would secure their spot, while their hosts only need a draw from the final group game to advance.
The manager said the team's focus turned quickly to the Budapest encounter following the vital victory over Portugal, however, he stressed that they need to take the experience, and how it came about, collectively, into the Hungary decider.
The manager was loathe to speak about any individual performances after the Portugal game such was the team effort which led to the 2-0 victory; however, he was pushed to talk about veteran Séamus Coleman’s contribution to the cause over the last two international windows.
"I think in general, in life, and all people, and it applies to football, there's two kinds of people - people that are vacuums and people that are batteries, you know, that will give energy, will give joy, will give enthusiasm," pondered Hallgrimsson.
"And he is a really, really, really big battery for this group in so many ways. So the more the people of Ireland will produce more [players like] Seamus in the future, the better it will be for the football team.
"That's probably the biggest compliment I can give to anyone in life - he is the biggest battery I have worked with in a football team.
"Really he is a man that loves his country and will do anything, not only to shine himself, but to get the best out of everyone around him."
'People that are vacuums and people that are batteries'.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 15, 2025
Heimir Hallgrimsson hails Séamus Coleman as the ultimate battery he's ever worked with. 🔋
📺 Watch Hungary v Republic of Ireland in World Cup qualifying on Sunday from 1.00pm on @rte2 and @rteplayer pic.twitter.com/48dgjvRDpT
Caoimhín Kelleher was happy to add to the influence of the former captain, and stressed the importance of using his experience going into such a big game in Budapest.
"I think it's pretty clear to see his leadership on the pitch," said the Cork man. "He's one that has the ability to tell others where to go and what to do and also focus on his own performance. pretty good as well.
"I think he's a selfless player. He wants everyone else to do well. He gives 110 percent, he drives the standards in the team, he's an inspiration.
"A lot of us in the squad look to him, he's a lad who's been there and done it, he's played in so many important games already for his country.
"So we'll definitely lean on his experience today."
Hallgrimsson was also asked about Troy Parrott’s contribution on Thursday, scoring twice in the victory, and whether it was a coming of age performance for the young striker.
The Icelander, however, felt unqualified to answer as he admitted that he was not privy to the years of hype that centred around the striker as he started to make his way through the levels of international football.
"I don't know the background of Troy. I didn't see him play much before. I don't have the players from the youth national team games etc,"
"Coming from the summer where he was top scorer in Europe, he was unluckily injured, and it would have been nice to have him in September. At the moment, he's flying."
"It's not been any surprise to me how well Troy's doing at club level and then how well he did on Thursday night as well," added Kelleher.
"I've been with him since the 21s, he's been scoring goals, he's full of confidence, which is important for a striker as well. To watch him grow has been really nice.
"I think he really was due that big moment in an Ireland shirt, and now once he's got that he's going to be hungry for more. You can see already he wants to score tomorrow. It's nice to see."
Finn Azaz’s performance was also mentioned in the press conference, in particular the crunching tackle that earned him a yellow card, and while Hallgrimsson agreed that it was important for his players to be able to show both sides of their game, he made a point of bringing the focus back to the collective and a vital final game where victory is the only desirable outcome.
"You always need that when you play a team that's ranked as high above us as Portugal was," said Hallgrimsson, on Azaz.
"We always like two-way players, I think Ireland would always need two-way players. It was nice to see him get a yellow for two tough tackles. He, like everyone else, did a good tactical game. We played as a unit.
"Now you've taken Séamus, Troy, and now Finn. I've talked about them individually, but I don't think it was something individual or there was one hero last game.
"I think it was really a good collective win. A solid unit playing against Portugal and we need that one again.
"We need to remember what created the win, not just enjoying it and celebrating it, what created the win against Portugal and we need to reproduce that now."
Watch Hungary v Republic of Ireland in World Cup qualifying on Sunday from 1.00pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
