Ireland v Hungary and Armenia - September 2025

**Eirambler** · 21/08/2025, 6:09 PM

With the Hungary game just over two weeks away I'd imagine we'll see Hallgrimsson's squad announcement early next week. It looks like it might actually be competitive to make the squad for once - Wikipedia suggests we've called up 46 players in the last year, and he tends to go with squads of just 23. There are a few injuries, but not too many, so there will be maybe a few surprise omissions here.

Goalkeeper looks fairly straightforward with Kelleher, Bazunu and Travers all currently fit. O'Leary is injured but probably wouldn't have been in anyway and Keeley will likely miss out despite his good form.

At right back Doherty looks a certain pick (although he claims he's a centre back these days) and Coleman as captain will presumably be in if fit.

Collins, O'Shea and O'Brien will be among the centre backs. That potentially leaves a few players chasing one other place, including Dunne, Abankwah, McGuinness, Scales and Omobamidele. Scales may get the nod here, meaning some decent players in McGuinness, Dunne and Omobamidele may miss out.

Left back looks more straightforward with Brady out, O'Dowda and Manning appear to be the only realistic options unless a decision is taken to being McClean out of retirement. Honohan didn't feature in June so is unlikely to make the cut here.

In centre midfield Cullen and Knight will definitely be in. That would leave Taylor, Smallbone, Molumby, Finn, Coventry, McGrath, Phillips and Lawal battling for one or two remaining places. Not sure where Alan Browne is at these days. Taylor and Molumby to get in maybe, with the rest all missing out?

Azaz and Szmodics will likely be the attacking midfielders, with Moran out of sight in the US. Szmodics had an injury scare but it sounds like it's maybe not too bad.

On the wing it's competitive as well, with McAteer, Johnston, Ogbene, Ebosele, Sykes and Vata competing for maybe three places - the first three would be favourites there, but that would mean we wouldn't have the option to bring Festy on off the bench in either game.

That would leave room for three out and out strikers, which would likely be Parrott, Ferguson and Idah also squeezing in as a bench option despite his poor form.

So that would leave the squad as:

Kelleher, Bazunu, Travers
Coleman, Doherty, Collins, O'Shea, O'Brien, Scales, O'Dowda, Manning
Cullen, Knight, Molumby, Taylor
Ogbene, Johnston, McAteer, Azaz, Szmodics
Parrott, Ferguson, Idah