Heimir Hallgrimsson may have dropped the bombshell about his contract extension right in the middle of his squad announcement press conference ahead of the World Cup play-offs, but there were still plenty of other talking points to pick through from his 25-man panel. While you could have put your house on the likes of Troy Parrott, Caoimhín Kelleher, Nathan Collins and Finn Azaz getting the nod, others were less certain of making the cut. We knew that Evan Ferguson, Josh Cullen and Mikey Johnston were out injured but the camp came too soon for Will Smallbone. Robbie Brady and Adam Idah won their own fitness races to be included, there was a first Irish call-up for new recruit Harvey Vale, while Alan Browne earned a first recall since September 2024. Here are some winners and losers from the squad announcement as Prague looms.

Source: Irish Independent March 19, 2026 21:09 UTC