2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifying Group F: Armenia v Republic of Ireland (Tuesday, Republican Stadium Yerevan, 5pm, live on RTE2)
KEITH Fahey played just 11 times for Ireland, but he left his mark on international football.
The Dubliner scored the only goal in the 2010 qualifier against Armenia and the three points he earned were instrumental in sending Giovanni Trappatonni’s Ireland side to the play-offs and then (after a 5-1 win over Latvia) on to the 2012 Euros in Poland.
Luckless Fahey was the hero of Yerevan but didn’t make the tournament. He had to pull out with a groin injury but he did his bit and the Republic could do with another unheralded hero – a Jason Knight, Jack Taylor, Mikey Johnston, or whoever it is – stepping up to do something similar on Tuesday evening.
Evan Ferguson dragged the Republic of Ireland back into their World Cup qualifier against Hungary (Damien Eagers/PA)
It was the much-maligned Adam Idah who brilliantly came up with the vital equaliser with a thumping header against Hungary on Saturday night in the nerve-jangling opener in Dublin.
The Republic’s display has been criticised for lacking finesse. It was cross after cross, after cross (40 in all) into the Magyars’ box and it was unsophisticated but there was passion there and excitement and home crowds haven’t been spoiled for either in recent years.
The Boys in Green cannot be faulted for effort or resilience after they came back from a horror start that saw the visitors take a 2-0 lead after 17 minutes. Evan Ferguson, who went up through the gears as the game wore on, scored the first goal early in the second half and then, after Caoimhin Kelleher had denied Hungary twice and Roland Sallai had been sent off, Ireland laid siege to the visitors’ goal.
Chiedoze Ogbene, Finn Azaz and the outstanding Ryan Manning all went close before Idah finally broke through in the third minute of injury-time.
“Reflecting on the last game, you can see it as the glass half-empty or the glass half-full,” said Ireland manager Heimar Hallgrimmson.
“We will address some of the things we didn’t do well, but from the 30th minute, I think we more or less controlled the game and got into a good rhythm that increased until the end.
“We created a lot of good opportunities that we should have done better with, but it is a better problem to solve not scoring from many chances than not creating chances at all.
“A really good effort, really good character, that’s what we take from this game.”
They wanted three points, they got one so it wasn’t the start Ireland wanted but not a disaster either and they’ll be well aware that all the hard work they did against Hungary will count for nothing if they don’t take three points against an Armenia side that was hammered 5-0 by top seeds Portugal (who can do Ireland a favour against Hungary in Budapest on Tuesday night) in their opener.
Joao Felix scored the first of Portugal’s three first-half goals in the 10th minute and Cristiano Ronaldo doubled their lead in the 21st minute before a Joao Cancelo strike sent Roberto Martinez’s side 3-0 ahead in the 33rd minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix were among Portugal’s scorers against Armenia (Hakob Berberyan/AP)
Two more from Ronaldo and Felix completed the rout in the second half.
Armenia is a proud nation and that loss will have stung but it was not unexpected. Armenia are on a wretched run of form and it’s almost a year since their last victory.
Manager Yegishe Melikyan, who was appointed in August, took over a side that had lost three of their last four (the only crumb of comfort was a 2-2 draw against Montenegro) and conceded 18 goals in the process.
Saturday’s loss to Ronaldo and co. was Melikyan’s first game in charge and, in fairness, they don’t come much tougher than Portugal, number six in Fifa’s world rankings.
“Portugal crushed us with their quality,” said the Armenia manager.
“Losing heavily at home, even to Portugal, is unpleasant, and I apologize for the result. I know why I came here and what I will do. It’s important for us now not to get discouraged, not to lose hope, and to move forward together, supporting each other.”
Since the retirement of international retirement of former Manchester United and Arsenal attack-midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Armenia have found goals hard to come by outside of Eduard Spertsyan who scored the only goal last time Armenia hosted the Boys in Green back in 2022. Despite the early setback, their manager insists he is in the process of putting together an effective team.
“I’m ready to go all the way,” he said.
“I’m ready for criticism after such matches. Sooner or later, I will make our fans happy so give me a year and I’ll build my team.”
Republic of Ireland’s Nathan Collins reacts a missed chance against Hungary (Damien Eagers/PA)
He won’t have his team ready for Tuesday night then and that is good news for the Republic of Ireland who don’t have Portugal’s quality but do have plenty of experience and physicality.
Ireland could opt to switch Ryan Manning to left-back in place of Matt Doherty, who could have done better for both Hungary goals, and bring Mikey Johnson in on the left-wing. With Sammie Szmodics out, Cheidoze Ogbene is likely to come into the starting line-up on the right of midfield.
After their home drubbing on Saturday, Armenia will be desperate for a positive result. It’s unlikely they’ll be too adventurous early on against Ireland but they’re the home side and they will have to come out at some stage.
“I think the group is experienced enough now through what we’ve been through over the last few years to understand that any game at this level can’t be taken for granted,” said Ireland midfielder Josh Cullen.
“We know we’re going to have to be fully focused and ready to go. We’re in a new era now, a new mindset as a team, and just looking forward to getting back out there and building on what was a positive second half the other night.
“The experiences we’ve been through as a group have helped us, and we know what we need to do to come here and get a result.”
Cullen will play a key role for the Republic in keeping the ball moving in the 30-degree heat, staying patient and developing attacks. Barring another early setback, there should be no need for the put-it-in-the-box desperation that we saw on Saturday night.
The home side will be motivated but they will struggle to find a way past O’Shea, Nathan Collins and Kelleher at the back. In midfielder, Ireland need more from Cullen particularly and Knight to create opportunities for the pace of Ogbene and the power of Ferguson up front.
Passion and the resilience were evident on Saturday, now Ireland have to keep the ball and add some creativity against a team short on confidence and quality. If Ireland can settle and get off to a solid start at the back, a win – and another 1-0 would do – is not beyond them.
Will the next Keith Fahey stand up?