Ireland secured their place in Nations League Group B with a 2-1 defeat of Bulgaria in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday evening.
The fixture saw Heimir Hallgrímsson's men finish 4-2 on aggregate and book their place in a World Cup qualifying group with Portugal, Armenina and Hungary.
While Ireland suffered an early scare by way of a Valentin Antov goal and struggled to convert chances in the opening half, second-half contributions from Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah saw Ireland run out relatively comfortable winners in the end.
Evan Ferguson Ladies and Gentlemen!
The Bettystown native has Ireland back in the mix against Bulgaria!pic.twitter.com/3Yvu1P8zPt
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) March 23, 2025
Ferguson's goal proved a rare bright spark in what has been a tumultuous few months for the youngster who has been plagued by injury and misfortune.
Troy Parrot also enjoyed a stellar outing, dominating Ireland's attack in the first half and earning a well-deserved man of the match award. The promise of two of Ireland's youngest stars certainly bodes well for the future of Heimir Hallgrímsson's tenure and the options he'll have to choose from.
However, there was some friction in the opening half where Ferguson and Parrott struggled to get themselves on the same hymn sheet and the former was somewhat hamstrung by his on-field positioning.
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23 March 2025; Evan Ferguson of Republic of Ireland has a shot on goal despite the efforts of Simeon Petrov of Bulgaria during the UEFA Nations League B/C Play-off 2nd Leg match between Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Dunphy concerned by tactical compatibility of Evan Ferguson and Parrott
12 months ago the prospect that Ferguson would have to fight for his place would've been absurd at best. However, writing in the Irish Mirror Eamon Dunphy has concerns that both he and Troy Parrott can share the field together.
"Key to so much of Ireland’s first-half problems was Hallgrimsson’s decision to go with both Evan Ferguson and Troy Parrott as a pair in attack," said Dunphy.
They are both good players. But think of Niall Quinn and Robbie Keane or when Quinn teamed up with Kevin Phillips at Sunderland.
One forward played with his back to goal; the other ran in behind. It was actually a simple formula.
So why then did the dentist complicate things? Parrott and Ferguson are two of a kind. They both want to drop deep and link the play, to play with their back to goal. Neither player, in the first half, made runs in behind. When that happens, you run into trouble.
While fit and in form there is little doubt Ferguson is the man for the job up front, Parrott also did more than enough across the two legs against Bulgaria to justify his starting position.
Like everyone watching, Dunphy was in little doubt that Parrott was deserving of the credit coming his way, claiming that a better tactical partner for the AZ Alkmaar star would've put Bulgaria on the back foot much sooner than Ferguson's 63rd-minute leveller.
Parrott does deserve the praise that goes his way. He is very clever. Had he been partnered by a forward with a contrasting style, Bulgaria would have been in trouble in the first half, too, because they would not have known whether to push up and guard Parrott or whether to sit deep?
Praising both Parrott and Ferguson for their contributions, Dunphy chalked Ireland's later success down to a moment of 'individual brilliance' from Ferguson as opposed to a reaction from the fix for the manager.
While for the first time in some years, Ireland now face the dilemma of having a genuine contest for starting positions up front, it will be a stern challenge for Heimir Hallgrímsson to incorporate the duo into an XI that also has the likes of Adam Idah knocking on the door.
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