Republic of Ireland v Hungary - Saturday, 6 September 2025 - 2026 World Cup Qualifier

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

“I know 40-plus crosses is an unusually high number in a game but that is what we wanted to do,” he added. “We have physicality and strength in the air so it is one of the weapons. If we have 40 or more crosses in a game, we will probably score more goals. In [that] game, it didn’t happen. Are we happy with that way of playing? One hundred per cent.”

---

Crossing has a low statistically success rate. And as much as HH says he wanted us to put crosses in, Hungary wanted us to do that as well for that reason. What Hungary did was textbook for all teams in a similar situation – compress the middle, push them wide. For me, Idah’s goal came from us drawing them out of position. See how Johnston shaping up for a shot drew one of their defenders out – that was the key to the goal, the space that (variety) created.

Up a goal and down to ten men, it's exactly what the Hungarians wanted us to do. And they nearly pulled it off as well, with the equaliser coming so late. And we also needed Kelleher to bail us out at the other end.

I look forward to Troy Parrott coming back into the fold, he's making great runs for AZ Alkmaar.

I rearranged the second half on the RTE Player. Manning really was the best player on the pitch, and Kelleher was really important, but Ferguson ran them both close. He was playing too deep to really get an effective shot away, but his movement, passing, and how he occupied the defence was excellent. We need to find an effective striker to partner him.