Evan Ferguson confident Republic of Ireland can still reach World Cup finals

Damian Spellman, PA, Lisbon

Evan Ferguson has insisted there would be no point turning up in Portugal if he and his Republic of Ireland team-mates did not believe they could still qualify for the World Cup finals.

Ireland’s hopes of emerging from Group F were dealt a significant blow last month when they drew 2-2 with Hungary in Dublin and then went down 2-1 in Armenia.

And the degree of difficulty will only increase on Saturday when they face Roberto Martinez’s men at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

However, 20-year-old Brighton striker Ferguson, who is on loan at Roma, is convinced their dream is still alive.

Asked if he believed they could make it to the finals, he said: “Yes of course. There would be no point in being here if we didn’t believe that.

“Every time we’re together, we have the belief and whatever anyone else says we have to just put aside and come together as a group and find out what we need to do and how we can get ourselves to America next year.”

Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has spoken in the past about the “heavy shirt” his players wear as they attempt to follow in the footsteps of those who took the nation on to the big stage on a regular basis.

Ireland have not played tournament football since Euro 2016 and last went to the World Cup finals in 2002 and while Ferguson is adamant he does not feel that pressure, he admits confidence may have been dented in recent years.

He said: “I wouldn’t say much about a heavy jersey, I’d say a confidence thing maybe because whoever is here wants to play for their country and wants to play as best as they can.

“No-one comes here to want to lose games. Every time you’re here, you want to win games, so I think it’s just more of a confidence thing and trying to build a run of results and hopefully we have the squad now that can do that.

“We’ve got a mix of some of the players in the past who have gone away to tournaments and we’ve got some young players who can be here for many years. Hopefully we have a run of games and we do well.”

Ferguson, who confirmed he has shaken off an ankle problem to declare himself fit for the game in Lisbon and the home clash with Armenia on Tuesday, is currently reaping the rewards of a return to regular football after sealing a loan switch to Serie A.

He is yet to open his account for Roma, but scored in both September games for his country and is happy with his form.

He said: “If you watch the games, I’ve done quite well in most of the games, but not had too many chances.

“It is what it is. You want to score goals, there is no getting around that, but I’m not really too worried, to be honest.”