Finn Azaz: Win for Ireland in Portugal would be bigger shock than Armenia defeat

Damian Spellman, PA

Finn Azaz has admitted a Republic of Ireland victory in Portugal would be a bigger shock than their defeat in Armenia as they attempt to get their World Cup qualification campaign back on track.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men went down 2-1 in Yerevan last month three days after fighting back from 2-0 down at home to Hungary to draw 2-2, leaving their dream of making it to the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer – and perhaps their head coach’s future – hanging by a thread.

Ireland’s hopes of emerging from Group F could live or die on what they do against Cristiano Ronaldo and company in Lisbon on Saturday evening, and Southampton midfielder Azaz knows the odds on a famous result in Irish football history are not on their side.

Asked if a win at the Jose Alvalade Stadium against a side ranked fifth in the world would represent a bigger surprise than the debacle in Armenia, who sit in 103rd place in the rankings, the 25-year-old told a press conference: “We know what Portugal are, so the obvious answer to that question is ‘yes’.

“But at the same time with that added energy of losing that last game – we all know we shouldn’t be losing that game – so there’ll definitely be an added edge to make it right.

“There is an anger there to put things right. We know it wasn’t good enough and we’re feeling we can really make a statement and put it right.

“For me these are the best opportunities to show and showcase that you can compete with those players.

“A lot of people will think, ‘Ah, those are the big players’, but for me, I’m motivated to show that I can compete with them and that will match the mentality from the other lads.”

Ireland embarked upon the campaign with high hopes of making the finals of a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2016, but in the wake of a spirited fightback against Hungary, the wheels came off at the Republican Stadium in Yerevan, where they had also lost a Nations League fixture in June 2022.

Azaz said: “We can’t dwell on what went wrong now, we have to look forward, look to Saturday as the first opportunity to eliminate those mistakes and put in a top, top performance.

“We need to take responsibility and put it right, and kind of make sure it’s right for the next two games.

“I felt we had a lot of confidence going into those last two games and it was really disappointing, and that is why we are just really motivated to put it right in the next two games.”

Azaz, who made a £12million switch from Middlesbrough to the Saints this summer, started both games last month and is comfortable with the responsibility placed on him by Hallgrimsson to provide the creative spark which was so lacking in Armenia.

He said: “I’ve had enough experience in football to understand that and live with that expectation and pressure.”