Ireland Suffers 5-0 Defeat to England

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson expressed his shock and disappointment after a humiliating 5-0 defeat to England at Wembley, describing the second half as a 'six minutes of madness' following a red card for Liam Scales. The team had initially performed well, effectively frustrating England during the first half, but collapsed when Scales was sent off, allowing Harry Kane to score from the penalty spot. Hallgrímsson admitted his players 'lost their heads' and conceded that it was 'embarrassing' to lose so decisively. He later rowed back on his statement that the team 'gave up,' suggesting it was perhaps too harsh, although he acknowledged their struggle with confidence. He emphasized the difficulties of recovering from such a sudden shift in momentum, noting that the defeat was a significant slap in the face for the team. Hallgrímsson also criticized the officiating, feeling a penalty should have been awarded to Evan Ferguson in the first half, which could have altered the game's trajectory.