Hungary v Republic of Ireland - Sunday 16th November - 2026 World Cup qualifier

So it's come to this. 15 minutes into the first game against Hungary, our campaign was over. Now we go there "just" needing a win to make the play-offs, on the back of a deserved win over Portugal while Hungary struggled past Armenia in Yerevan (I think Armenia had a couple of great late chances to take a draw.

Manning and Molumby are back, and I don't think anyone's out after yesterday? Maybe Azaz, but I think he only came off with Cramp.

But do you make changes to yesterday? After all, it worked - and it worked when it got going in the second half against Hungary too.

This couldn't be on - could it?

And if we can win and Portugal lose at home against Armenia...well, let's not get too carried away.

Armenia had a glorious chance right at the death. Hungary are no great shakes.

I would stick with the same team as last night but with Manning coming in for Scales and Molumby in for Taylor. Both were excellent last night, especially Scales.

But Manning’s free taking could be crucial.
And Molumby’s tenacity could also be very much needed.

The big thing about last night is that we've gone from this being an impossible to task to a plausible ask. Had we drawn last night we would still have been in it, but we would be heading to Hungary needing to win by 4 clear goals.

Now we need a win. Any win will do. We've shown that we can defend, and that we offer a threat from set pieces. Based on that we have a punchers chance of getting what we need.

And there must be a spring in the step this morning that's been absent for years.

On the contrary there would have been a hell of an adjustment in the mood in the best hotel in Yereven last night. Hungary will be worried.

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Originally Posted by backstothewall

Had we drawn last night we would still have been in it, but we would be heading to Hungary needing to win by 4 clear goals.

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Two goals.

I remember in secondary school, the maths teacher ran the football 5-a-sides. Started with a group stage and then into knock-outs. One team needed to beat their opponents by three goals (say), but the didn't realise that when playing against their direct rivals, every goal they scored was worth two in terms of goal difference, because it was a goal conceded by the rivals too. They thought they needed to win by six, and kept pushing even after getting the third goal. The maths teacher thought it was hilarious and used it as a brief sarcastic example in class :)

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Two goals.

I remember in secondary school, the maths teacher ran the football 5-a-sides. Started with a group stage and then into knock-outs. One team needed to beat their opponents by three goals (say), but the didn't realise that when playing against their direct rivals, every goal they scored was worth two in terms of goal difference, because it was a goal conceded by the rivals too. They thought they needed to win by six, and kept pushing even after getting the third goal. The maths teacher thought it was hilarious and used it as a brief sarcastic example in class :)

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Of course.

In my defence I was up late last night!

I was really, really impressed with Scales last night. He took 15 minutes to settle and stop drifting into the center but it was really solid defensive display from there with an assist going forward.

I'd be strongly inclined to keep the back 5 from last night and play Manning in the left attacking role instead of Azaz. He has the strongest delivery in the team and could be a great link with Parrot. He's much stronger defensively than Azaz as well and we're realistically going to spend long spells without possession on Sunday

Ogbene, Cullen and Taylor all had their best games in an Irish shirt so they should keep their place.

Parrot is a no-brainer

The mind monkeys will begin affecting Hungary at some point and they'll start protecting the draw instead of pushing for the win. So if we keep them out for the first 20 minutes we'll have a real shot.

This is really, really achievable. And looking at the list of second place teams, there's some very beatable playoff opponents in the mix.

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Originally Posted by rebelmusic

The mind monkeys will begin affecting Hungary at some point and they'll start protecting the draw instead of pushing for the win. So if we keep them out for the first 20 minutes we'll have a real shot.

This is really, really achievable. And looking at the list of second place teams, there's some very beatable playoff opponents in the mix.

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One has to be believe that the emboldened sentiment above is a thing.
Look at it from their perspective:
- Started the group like a train: 2-0 up away to the team most likely to vie with them for either top or play-off spot;
- rival comes back and snatches draw;
- lose at home to a late goal;
- can't shake off rival ahead of final match vs rival;

Extreme take, but fair nonetheless: They've gone from looking at potentially winning the group after 30 mins of the first game, having not qualified for a World Cup since 1986, to being 1 goal away from elimination on the last night. Damn straight the mind-monkeys are at play and maybe it would be no harm if the Irish management started mentioning this and the Irish media started pronouncing it.

"Here's Troy Parrott, it's up for grabs now...."

The mind monkeys are our 12th man now. And the longer it's 0-0 the more monkeys there will be.

In a strange way i'd prefer it to be 0-0 at half time than have them be ahead. This wants to be a smash and grab.

Winning the coin toss could be important. They will have that merry band of neo-fascist ultras dressed in black behind one of the goals. If we can play with them at our back in the first half and come in all square they might start getting on their own teams back every time we come forward in the second half, as we will obviously be forced to eventually.

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Originally Posted by rebelmusic

I'd be strongly inclined to keep the back 5 from last night and play Manning in the left attacking role instead of Azaz. He has the strongest delivery in the team and could be a great link with Parrot. He's much stronger defensively than Azaz as well and we're realistically going to spend long spells without possession on Sunday

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Manning for Azaz is a good call. It makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't mind Molumby or even Coventry for Taylor. All fairly similar and fresh legs starting there might be useful.

Mentality monsters needed to help the mind monkeys overcome the Hungarians :D

https://www.xtratime.org/forums/hungarian-football.186/

Hungies may talk the match here

Register for some polite discourse

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Originally Posted by rebelmusic

I was really, really impressed with Scales last night. He took 15 minutes to settle and stop drifting into the center but it was really solid defensive display from there with an assist going forward.

I'd be strongly inclined to keep the back 5 from last night and play Manning in the left attacking role instead of Azaz. He has the strongest delivery in the team and could be a great link with Parrot. He's much stronger defensively than Azaz as well and we're realistically going to spend long spells without possession on Sunday

Ogbene, Cullen and Taylor all had their best games in an Irish shirt so they should keep their place.

Parrot is a no-brainer

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We will have to bring on fresh legs with zuch a short turnaround. Taylor plays very little at Ipswich I'd absolutely bring in molumby fresh and athletic. Swap festy in for ogbene as festy has been playing consistently in Turkey and will be fresh and athletic to help out seamus on that side as Seamus has to play even though physically with so little club football surely it will be a massive ask. I'd start manning instead of azaz add a left footed threat and support scales.

I think you're right on fresh legs, and Molumby in for Taylor in an obvious swap in that regard. Manning for Azaz makes sense too.

But there's no way you can start Festy in such an important game after his performance yesterday surely? That said, Johnston - the other obvious candidate - wasn't exactly great in his last two games either. McGrath? That's if Ogbene needs to be replaced. His first touch was crap at times last night - including, ironically, just before he hit the post - but equally he was a threat (such as when he hit the post)

It'll be interesting to see what Hungary do.
They only need to draw, so don't have to attack us at all. But they won't be eager to sit back and be cautious, purely based on the frustrations they expressed in Dublin and how they were going to look for the same kind of officiating to favour them, in the way 'it favoured Ireland' in Dublin. But for that to happen, they'd have to attack us.
So that's an obviously interesting sub-plot to Sunday.

They have one aspect that I'd be concerned about and that's there ability to strike from outside the box - we did concede a few of those chances to Portugal but quick to close down the space and forcing the effort.

We looked most threatening against Hungary when we moved it up the pitch and into their box quickly enough and didn't give them time to settle.

Turns out they were fairly easily rattled by that.

If last night is a guide, we'll be doing that again. Knock it up the pitch, then work off setpieces into the box and keep the pressure on.

A draw with Portugal and a 2 goal win was the original plan. Hope we don't end up with the reverse of a 2-0 first and then a draw that is of no use.

Tough call to stick or twist with the same starting XI. Hard to make changes after an impressive win but freshness could be key as well. Going with the same starting XI with such a short turnaround doesn't always work out.

To go on a 5 game winning run to qualify would be incredible. Hungary away - the cup final that is a playoff quarter final.

I've changed my mind about the team. After the Portugal performance it has to be the same 11. How can you justify dropping anyone after that?

If it isn't working we can make changes. By all means bring Manning on at some stage if it's needed. But we shouild start with the same team.

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Originally Posted by backstothewall

I've changed my mind about the team. After the Portugal performance it has to be the same 11. How can you justify dropping anyone after that?

If it isn't working we can make changes. By all means bring Manning on at some stage if it's needed. But we shouild start with the same team.

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I agree in principle but I'd keep Azaz on the bench and bring him on if we're chasing the game.

Most important thing is that we're still the underdogs and the expectation pressure is off the team.

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Originally Posted by backstothewall

I've changed my mind about the team. After the Portugal performance it has to be the same 11. How can you justify dropping anyone after that?

If it isn't working we can make changes. By all means bring Manning on at some stage if it's needed. But we shouild start with the same team.

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I agree. I’ve come to that conclusion myself. Keep the momentum going. There’s 5 subs can be made throughout