ALIVE AND KICKING

Hallgrimsson is adamant that his Ireland team can now channel their disappointment in the right way ahead of crunch clash with Armenia

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

NO WAY Dara O'Shea disputes the penalty decision with referee Ivan Kruzliak in Lisbon

HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON is demanding a tunnel vision approach to tomorrow's must win clash with Armenia.

His Ireland players were crushed on the final whistle in Lisbon on Saturday, to a man sinking to their knees after a brilliant defensive display was ruled null and void by Ruben Neves' injury-time winner.

But Hallgrimsson is adamant Ireland can channel their disappointment in the right way going into this high stakes renewal with Armenia, who swatted away his team with such ease in Yerevan last month.

Ireland have to win to keep the World Cup show on the road - and that hasn't changed after Saturday's cruel setback, losing a point that would have been an unexpected but priceless lifeline.

"It's still in our hands," said the Ireland boss. "We just need to focus on us and not think about other results.

"If we get three points tomorrow, we're still alive in this group. It's in our hands."

Ireland's Achilles' heel has always been putting the so-called smaller nations to the sword, while at the same time being capable of forcing the issue with the bigger sides.

And it's a fact not lost on Hallgrimsson who admitted it was easier tactically to set up against Portugal, knowing exactly what his team would face.

"It was a pretty basic tactical preparation because we knew how this game was going to be played.

"It's different when you don't know how it will pan out," he said.

"But we kind of knew how Saturday's game would pan out, so it's easier to make a game plan in a game like this.