Ireland v Bulgaria this Sunday is a real opportunity for Heimir Hallgrimsson to build momentum for the national side ahead of a reasonable run of fixtures in 2025 after a comfortable performance in the first leg on Thursday night.
Bulgaria may not be of the same calibre as the side that was hard to beat in 2017/18 but qualified for the Nations League play-off on merit.
Victories have been hard to come by in recent years for Ireland so the result should be welcomed.
However, the emergence of the domestic League of Ireland has brought into focus the quality on display to a larger audience. At times, it feels as though several players playing in the Premier Division could add to this current international squad, with three Shamrock Rovers players in particular possessing the ability to make a difference.
Ireland v Bulgaria Tie Ushers in Winnable Run of Fixtures For Bhoys in Green
There was a nice mix of international experience and players looking to tie down a place in the national side in the win over Bulgaria.
The likes of Robbie Brady and Matt Doherty produced impressive displays in the 2-1 win over Bulgaria. The emergence of Jake O’Brien and Finn Azaz adds an excitement factor to this current Irish squad as both players have high ceilings.
Maintaining a place in League B would be an excellent start to what could turn out to be a pivotal year in the prospects of Irish international football.
It is now just three wins from 17 matches in Nations League matches since the inauguration of the tournament and that record highlights how poor the standard was during the last couple of regimes.
2025 offers an opportunity to turn the fortunes of the team around as the Ireland v Bulgaria second leg is the first of four home matches in the calendar year.
The Republic of Ireland host Senegal in a June friendly before home fixtures against Hungary and Armenia in World Cup qualifiers in September and October respectively.
On the road, the Bhoys in Green travel to Luxembourg in June before travelling to Armenia and Hungary in the return fixtures of the World Cup qualifying group.
All of these fixtures are winnable on paper with wins picked up over three of the four in recent years.
Former International Still Capable of Performing at Highest Level
The current Irish national squad has numerous attackers who can win matches on their day but there is a lack of technical quality and playmaking abilities on show at times.
Shamrock Rovers’ recent run in the UEFA Conference League has brought to light the talent in Stephen Bradley’s squad.
The argument against calling up footballers playing in the domestic league has been ongoing for several years and while there was merit in this before, regular viewers will point to Rovers’ historic European run as a sign that some players are able to make the step up and contribute at international level.
Graham Burke has played and scored for the Irish national side in the past. The 31-year-old still possesses the level of technical ability on the ball to create goalscoring opportunities.
He is more than capable of popping up in scoring positions and can be an accomplished finisher at any level, scoring in the qualifying rounds of each of UEFA’s three competitions since returning to the League of Ireland in 2019.
It is these types of attributes that Ireland have lacked from their attacking midfield players in recent years. Although Burke may not be capable of influencing a game for ninety minutes, his ability to make a telling contribution from the bench is unquestionable.
Shamrock Rovers Midfielders Would Provide Creative Spark
Supporters watching the national team in recent years have become accustomed to a lack of creativity in the middle of the pitch.
It is an ongoing issue that has not been resolved in multiple regimes. It particularly hindered Stephen Kenny’s spell in charge as the St. Patrick’s Athletic manager attempted to play a more fluid style.
27-year-old Dylan Watts, once on the books of Leicester City, has been the star man in this regard in the League of Ireland since the start of the 2024 campaign.
The midfielder is averaging 3.4 key passes per game in the current season and was arguably the best player in the domestic league in 2024.
Watts is providing a solid base for the Hoops alongside Matthew Healy. 22-year-old Healy has been a regular at under-21 level for Ireland and is comfortable on the ball, averaging a pass completion rate of over 80% in the domestic league in 2025.
He has the potential to elevate his game to the next level and a call-up to the national side would be a major benefit to his development. Healy is capable of competing with the current midfield options for a space in the squad at the very least.
There is an opportunity for Hallgrimsson to integrate domestic league players into the squad when the Premier Division is shining brighter than ever.
These three stars should be his first port of call if he wants to add players who could make an immediate impact on the current crop.