FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Republic of Ireland v Armenia
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Date: Tuesday, 14 October
Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins says he remains unable to fully explain last month’s shock 2-1 defeat to Armenia as his side prepare for a crucial rematch in Dublin on Tuesday.
Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup suffered a major setback with the loss in Yerevan, a result made even more damaging given that Armenia are the lowest-ranked team in Group F. The performance drew strong criticism from fans and pundits, particularly in light of Ireland’s spirited display in Saturday’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Portugal, where they were denied a point by a 91st-minute header from Rúben Neves.
Speaking ahead of the reverse fixture, Collins admitted the team are still searching for clarity over what went wrong in Armenia.
“It’s a difficult one to explain. Football is unpredictable – momentum swings quickly and confidence can shift in moments,” said the Brentford defender and Ireland captain. “We just never got going. Armenia grew in belief as we struggled to create anything. The togetherness and intensity we showed against Portugal were missing that day. Armenia sensed it and took control. They probably had the better chances and looked like the stronger team.”
Collins insisted, however, that one poor performance does not reflect Ireland’s true level.
“We believe we’re much better than what we showed in Yerevan. We know we can compete with top teams and deliver strong performances – Portugal proved that. Sometimes there isn’t a simple explanation, but the defeat was tough to take.”
Ireland are still without a win in their qualifying campaign and sit bottom of Group F with just one point from three matches. However, a victory on Tuesday could lift Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side up to second place and into contention for a play-off spot.
The performance in Lisbon has helped restore confidence within the squad, and Collins believes Ireland must build on that momentum.
“Playing for Ireland is one of the biggest honours you can have. There’s pressure, of course, but it’s a privilege – every kid growing up wants to wear this jersey,” he said. “The performance against Portugal showed what we’re capable of as a team. It brought us together and gave us belief again. But Armenia will be a completely different challenge. We need that inner conviction that we can dominate, create chances and score goals. We owe that to ourselves, and to the fans.”
Ireland now face a defining moment in their campaign, with nothing less than three points required to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
