Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson has responded to former Ireland player Richard Dunne's claims that he could be sacked after this block of Nations League games if they lose both matches.
The Ireland team is still looking for their first win under their new boss after losing 2-0 to Greece and England in September.
There is now huge pressure on Hallgrímsson to get it right, starting with the Finland game in Helsinki tonight.
Dunne, a former player and now pundit, spoke this week and claimed that the new Ireland boss, who took the job in July, could lose his role with Ireland sooner rather than later.
"I think Heimir Hallgrímsson is already feeling the pressure of the Ireland job. He has a bit of leeway after how long it took the FAI to find this manager, but if they don’t win either of the upcoming Nations League games against Finland and Greece, then I do think there’s the potential that they will look to bring someone new in," said Dunne to BetVictor, as reported by the Mirror this week.
Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)However, Hallgrímsson has dismissed claims that he may be about to be handed his P45, adding that he is far too busy coaching the team.
"That's the industry," said the Ireland boss via Extratime.ie. "Your job is trying to get subscribers, to listen to you, to buy your papers, whatever you write, whatever you need to get subscribers. And we need to respect your opinions.
"But to have an opinion on your opinion—if we need to do that all day long, then probably we would not be coaching at all. We wouldn't have time for that, so whatever people's opinion is, that's their opinion, and we need to respect it."
Ireland's game against Finland kicks off at 7:45 pm.
Republic of Ireland Squad: Finland & Greece
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max O'Leary (Bristol City)
Defenders: Festy Ebosele (Watford, on loan from Udinese), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Mark McGuinness (Luton Town), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Liam Scales (Celtic), Robbie Brady (Preston North End).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen).
Forwards: Adam Idah (Celtic), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Chiedozie Ogbene (Ipswich Town), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar).
UEFA Nations League: Fixtures
10/10 - Finland vs. Ireland, Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, 7.45pm (9.45pm local time)
13/10 - Greece vs. Ireland, Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Athens, 7.45pm (9.45pm local time)
