Alex MacQuoid
Ogbene: ‘All or Nothing’ for Ireland in Budapest
Chiedozie Ogbene has set the tone for the Republic of Ireland’s final World Cup qualifier against Hungary, labeling Sunday’s clash as an all-or-nothing encounter.
The 28-year-old winger played a pivotal role in Ireland’s 2-0 victory over Portugal on Thursday, keeping their qualification hopes alive.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side sits third in Group F, trailing Hungary by one point and Portugal by three. With Portugal facing Armenia simultaneously, Ireland must secure a win to advance.
“This result hasn’t defined us yet. We have to go to Hungary with a level head and we must win. It’s all or nothing, really. We can’t go there and try to get a draw as it won’t do us any good, so we need to win this game.”
Ogbene acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting Hungary’s determination to frustrate Ireland. He urged his teammates to carry the momentum from their victory over Portugal into Sunday’s match.
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A standout moment from Thursday’s game was Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card for an elbow on Dara O’Shea. Ogbene attributed the incident to frustration, crediting Ireland’s defensive effort for limiting Ronaldo’s impact.
“Frustration can kick in and happen to the best of us. Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, if not the best, and it happened to him, but that’s credit to the boys and how they defended.”