"The staging of Heimir Hallgrimsson's squad announcement in the offices of Sky Ireland, the team's sponsor, highlighted that his role requires an element of pressing the flesh and keeping up appearances."
"But the decisions that drove the identity of the 23 names on the piece of paper highlight that we have now reached the stage of the game where sentiment has no role in proceedings."
Heimir Hallgrimsson announced a 23-man squad from the Sky Ireland offices, underlining the public-facing and diplomatic aspects of the managerial role. The setting emphasized that managerial duties include personal engagement and managing appearances. The final selection excluded a long-serving defender, signaling a willingness to make difficult choices. Squad composition was determined by competitive and tactical priorities rather than past service or sentiment. Selection decisions reflect a stage of qualification where accountability and immediate performance needs override loyalty. The omission sends a clear message about the primacy of results in World Cup qualifying decisions.
Read at Independent
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