'Big respect' for Coleman as World Cup dream dies

Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson says he has "big respect" for how veteran defender Seamus Coleman has "given everything" to his country's cause.

Coleman, 37, played 96 minutes of Thursday's heartbreaking World Cup play-off semi-final shootout loss to the Czech Republic in Prague.

While the Everton stalwart would not be drawn on his international future in the immediate aftermath, his career is almost certain to end without having represented the Republic of Ireland at a World Cup.

"I'm especially sad for him, but just for everyone because it was so close," said Hallgrimsson.

"To play in the World Cup and to have this game [play-off final] at the Aviva [Stadium] would have been special.

"Obviously he has given everything to this team in his life, so big respect to him like all the others."

Hallgrimsson left Coleman out of his squad for the first two World Cup qualifiers, but last week admitted the defender "proved me wrong" after he defied a lack of club action to play a big part in the remaining four fixtures, including November's wins over Portugal and Hungary.

When quizzed on his future, Coleman said: "I'll be honest, it's not something I'm thinking about, talking about myself after the nation, the supporters, the players went out in the manner that we went out.

"It would be selfish and it's not something that I've really dissected myself at the minute."

Chasing World Cup qualification for the first time since 2002, the Republic of Ireland led 2-0 in Prague thanks to Troy Parrott's penalty and Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar's own goal.

However, the hosts quickly pulled a goal back with a penalty of their own before finding a late leveller through captain Ladislav Krejci.

Still tied after extra-time, Finn Azaz and Alan Browne had penalties saved as the home side prevailed 4-3 in the shootout to set up a play-off decider with Denmark.

The Republic of Ireland must wait six months for a return to competitive action in the Nations League, but having signed a contract extension until 2028, Hallgrimsson seemed upbeat about the journey is squad are on.

"We are trying to improve," said the 58-year-old.

"I think we have improved in a lot of metrics and statistics and we will just try to keep doing that."

Asked to clarify which metrics he was referring to, Hallgrimsson added: "It's distance covered, sprints, it's metrics like xG (expected goals), like playing through opponents and opponents play less through us.

"It's a lot of things, plus punching above our weight, winning three games in a row. All of these things haven't happened for the Irish national team.

"And just to show the character again, four times in the last year we have won games that we have been losing and I think we need to go back 16 years to the last time that happened.

"A lot of things are changing on the pitch and mentally as well. Hopefully we're going to continue growing."

The Republic of Ireland host North Macedonia - who lost 4-0 to Denmark on Thursday - in a Dublin friendly on Tuesday before Hallgrimsson's players return to their clubs.

Hallgrimsson's side will reassemble for friendlies with Qatar on 28 May and World Cup co-hosts Canada on 6 June before home and away Nations League matches against Kosovo, Israel and Austria in the Nations League between September and November.