The Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off semi-final against Czechia is now just a week away with Heimir Hallgrimsson set to name his squad for the trip to Prague today.
A fixture that for so long felt down the line as we basked in the beauty of Troy Parrott’s Budapest wonder day – New York mayor Zohran Mamdani was still obviously enamoured by it on St Patrick’s Day – it's now time for fans to look forward, not backwards.
Hallgrimsson and his coaches have, of course, been looking forward since November’s draw with a home final against Denmark or North Macedonia the reward for the winner.
Given the consolation 'prize’ if Ireland are defeated is a friendly match against the other semi-final loser, so much is on the line in this knockout fixture.
For Hallgrimsson, it’s not his first time in such pressurised circumstances.
Here, we have a look at his record in knockout international ties where the winner took all - one- or two-legged.
World Cup 2014 qualifier
Iceland 0-0 Croatia, Croatia 2-0 Iceland
Hallgrimsson was still assistant coach to Lars Lagerback at this stage, but it was his first real experience of knockout international football and, unfortunately for him, it was a losing effort.
As one of the unseeded teams, Iceland, then ranked 46th in the world, were always going to be up against it against a Croatia side sitting 18th in the world rankings (Ireland were 60th at the time).
The first leg in Reykjavík finished in a goalless draw on a difficult night for the hosts, with key striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson coming off injured in the first half while Olafur Skulason was sent off in the 50th minute.
It was Croatia’s turn to lose a player to a red card in the second leg - Mario Mandzukic dismissed not long after giving his nation the lead. Iceland couldn’t profit from that numerical advantage though with Darijo Srna securing Croatia’s ticket to Brazil early in the second half.
Euro 2016
Iceland 2-1 England
With Hallgrimsson and Lagerback now joint managers, they oversaw Iceland’s qualification for a first-ever major tournament with Czechia one of their defeated opponents on that journey.
In France, the dream continued as the Viking-clapping Icelanders went through in their group to set up a round of 16 clash with heavyweights England.
"The good news for Roy (Hodgson) is that England will win – and win well," one British national scribe opined before the match, a sentence reflecting the mood of a fanbase that viewed it as a fine-tuning game ahead of a potential meeting with the hosts.
Such a dismissive mood seemed applicable as Wayne Rooney fired home a penalty just four minutes in, however Ragnar Sigurdsson equalised within a minute and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson’s 18th-minute strike proved the winner with Hodgson resigning afterwards having been outclassed by Hallgrimsson.
Euro 2016
Iceland 2-5 France
Any chance of French complacency was wiped away by the England result as the Icelandic fairytale came to an end in emphatic circumstances.
In truth, the game was done by half-time as Oliver Giroud and Paul Pogba put France in a commanding position before the tournament hosts added two more through Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson struck from close range early in the second half, but Giroud restored France’s four-goal advantage. Birkir Bjarnason headed home a consolation for Iceland.
After their group opener, a 1-1 draw with Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo had sourly stated that Iceland were "not going to do anything in the competition."
He was proven wrong and it wouldn't be the last time a Hallgrimsson side would get under his skin.
Copa America 2024 qualifying
Jamaica 1-2 Canada, Canada 2-3 Jamaica
After coming through CONCACAF Nations League A, Hallgrimsson’s side were drawn against Canada with the winner advancing to the 2024 Copa America in the United States as a guest nation.
In the first leg in Kingston, Canada earned what appeared a vital away victory as they won 2-1.
Current Juventus player Jonathan David put Canada ahead seconds before the break and although Shamar Nicholson equalised after VAR intervened following an offside call on the pitch, Stephen Eustaquio gave Canada the crucial advantage four minutes from time.
That advantage was solidified as Alphonso Davies struck first in Toronto, but Nicholson grabbed a quickfire double in the 63rd and 66th minutes.
Ismael Kone put Canada back ahead on aggregate, but Bobby De Cordova-Reid sent Jamaica through on away goals from the penalty spot.
Canada, who would have one last route to qualifying, took full advantage to finish fourth at the actual tournament.
CONCACAF Nations League A 2023/24 semi-final
Jamaica 1-3 USA (after extra-time)
Hallgrimsson, who oversaw Iceland’s greatest-ever result, was seconds away from securing one of Jamaica's landmark moments in Texas.
Greg Leigh had put the outsiders ahead after just 31 seconds, and it was a lead they’d hold until the 96th minute when Cory Burke scored an unfortunate own goal.
Haji Wright then struck twice in two minutes to send the USA through to the final against Mexico, which they’d win 2-0.
Jamaica won the third-placed play-off 1-0 against Panama.
UEFA Nations League Group B 2024/25 promotion/relegation play-off
Bulgaria 1-2 Republic of Ireland, Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria
Ireland’s attempts to remain in League B of the Nations League were impressively secured as a pair of 2-1 victories set them up nicely for what would ultimately be a dramatic - and rewarding - 2025.
In the first leg in Plovdiv, the home side scored with their first attack of the game as Marin Petkov finished neatly, but there was a calmness to the Irish play that had been too often missing in recent years.
They started to dominate proceedings and by the break they had taken the lead.
First, Finn Azaz finished from close range with Matt Doherty heading home just before the break.
The second leg followed a similar plot-line; Bulgaria took the lead on the half-hour mark through Valentin Antov before Evan Ferguson and substitute Adam Idah scored at Aviva Stadium.
The player of the match award in the second leg went to a certain Troy Parrott.
He didn’t score as his search for an international goal neared a year, but he told RTÉ Sport: "I know the chances are going to keep coming and the goals will go in."
So far, so good for Troy – and for Hallgrimsson.
