“Hallgrimsson wants to banish dark memories from Kenny era”

Almost four years ago to the day, Stephen Kenny’s reign in charge of the Republic of Ireland began with a modest match against Bulgaria in an empty stadium 2,000 miles from home.

As European national teams returned to action after a 10-month break due to the pandemic, a late goal from Shane Duffy saved Kenny from starting his tenure with defeat in a forgotten Nations League fixture.

A few weeks later, Kenny’s Euro 2020 dreams were dashed after a penalty shootout defeat to Slovakia in Bratislava.

It set the tone for a turbulent tenure in which the Dubliner managed just 11 wins in 40 games and was in poor form when he left last November.

Of course, it is impossible to say at this stage whether Saturday’s Nations League clash with England will be a sign of things to come for the Republic of Ireland under surprise new coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, but the Icelander will at least be able to count on the enthusiastic home reception that Kenny was denied during the early stages of his time in charge, dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hallgrimsson should expect a blood-curdling atmosphere on Saturday, as high-stakes matches against England are rare. This will be the first match since Euro 1992 qualifiers, when the teams drew 1-1 at the old Lansdowne Road and Wembley stadiums.

Their last meeting was in a friendly at Wembley Stadium in November 2020, in which England won 3-0, with Jude Bellingham making his debut. However, Kenny – already under pressure after failing to win any of his opening four games – later made headlines when it emerged he had shown his players a motivational video that allegedly contained political content.

Hallgrimsson appears to have taken a different approach, saying last week he would try to calm down rather than incite his players ahead of their match against the world’s fourth-ranked team.

Indeed, composure is just one of the attributes his team will need if they are to begin a new era with a victory over the team that played in the Euro 2024 final two months earlier.

The country’s first league match against the Three Lions should at least give Hallgrimsson a clearer picture of the quality at his disposal before he attempts to end the team’s long wait for a return to the World Cup.

One of Hallgrimsson’s main tasks will be to erase the memories of Kenny’s darkest moments, especially the embarrassing defeats to Luxembourg and Armenia.

Kenny’s defence has typically relied on the fact that the Dubliner was working with a young squad that had not yet reached adulthood.

But as midfielder Jayson Molumby – one of 24 players to lose blood during Kenny’s three-year reign – pointed out this week, there are no more excuses for these players. They are experienced enough to start making a name for themselves at this level.

And as Hallgrimsson ponders his first-team squad, it appears his squad is in good form.

While he was without injured goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and midfielder Josh Cullen, Hallgrimsson could count on captain Seamus Coleman and key striker Evan Ferguson, who were both out with fitness issues.

Ferguson’s ankle injury has kept him out of action since March but assistant manager John O’Shea said the 19-year-old would be fit for the England clash.

He may not be fit to start for the club, however, and given the low number of goals Ireland have scored in recent years (49 in 40 games under Kenny), his absence would normally be cause for concern.

However, Adam Idah – a candidate to lead the attack in Ferguson’s place – has enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Celtic, with his nine goals in 19 appearances enough to secure a permanent move from Norwich to the Scottish champions.

Also promising are the signings of new signing Kasey McAteer, whose pace, direct runs and goal-scoring talent could make him a valuable asset to the team.

Meanwhile, Sammie Szmodics is set to make his international debut. The 28-year-old lit up the Championship with Blackburn last season, and his 27 goals earned him a £9m move to Ipswich.

He has already scored his first Premier League goal – against Manchester City – and looks set to become a key figure in the post-Kenny era.

Hallgrimsson was also certainly pleased that Chiedozi Ogbene was staying in the Premier League, with the 27-year-old joining Szmodics at Portman Road from relegated Luton.

Ipswich’s growing Ireland squad also includes Dara O’Shea, who joins Kieran McKenna’s side after an impressive year at Burnley.

The details of Hallgrimsson’s system are not yet known but O’Shea and fellow Premier League centre-back Nathan Collins of Brentford could prove key as they try to bolster an Ireland defence that has kept just two clean sheets (both against Gibraltar) in Euro 2024 qualifying.

In the Icelandic national team, which he led to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 with Lars Lagerback and, after Lagerback left, to the 2018 World Cup, Hallgrimsson has proven that he can find a successful system and extract career-best performances from his players. However, expectations of him will have to be moderate this week.

Because even without stars like Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, England are a formidable unit. Indeed, caretaker boss Lee Carsley – who many thought would replace Kenny – has three recent Ballon d’Or nominees at his disposal: Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.

Beating England – something Hallgrimsson was no stranger to – went down in history as one of Ireland’s best results in years.

But even if that is unachievable, a performance that moves the Aviva Stadium crowd and breathes new life into the Republic of Ireland could be a satisfying return in the first act of a new era.