Josh Cullen outlines why Ireland are a stronger team under Heimir Hallgrimsson
The Boys in Green are in London to play England at Wembley Stadium on Sunday evening (5.00pm)
Josh Cullen was a Wembley winner at club level and now wants to repeat the trick with his country.
The Ireland midfielder will win his 40th cap in this evening’s clash against a depleted England side in London, eager to build on Thursday 1-0 win over Finland.
Back in 2019, Cullen was in the Charlton Athletic side that beat Sunderland 2-1 in the League One playoff final at the famous stadium - and even set up the winner.
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This will be a more formidable task, even if England are missing the likes of Declan Rice, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka.
“It was a while ago now, but obviously great memories are coming back and not on the international stage, but at club level having won a game here,” said Cullen last night.
“It’s nice coming back but when kick off comes, that all goes out the window as it’s a new game and a new occasion.”
But the Burnley midfielder is adamant that Ireland can force the issue with England tonight as he feels Ireland are a stronger team under Heimir Hallgrimsson.
Cullen blossomed in this team under Stephen Kenny but feels Hallgrimsson is striking the right tone as his successor, going into the final group game of this campaign.
Cullen said: “We could probably sit here for hours talking about everything that's changed and everything we've tried to work on.
“But I think we're in a much stronger place than we were then. It was a very young side that's had a few years to develop now.
“We're trying to focus on being a hard team to beat first and foremost and it was good to get a clean sheet against Finland.
“We're in a good place and I'm confident about tonight.”
Asked to put his finger on why exactly Ireland are stronger now than they were, Cullen continued: “I'm not going to go too much into tactics and where we're at as a team.
“But the coaches and management are delivering really clear messages to us as players where we feel we can go and carry it out on the pitch.
“As a team we're confident and on the back of a good result, it always helps breed that confidence.”
Cullen will anchor midfield this evening, although he will have a new midfield partner as Jason Knight is suspended. Jayson Molumby looks primed to start.
It will be Cullen’s 40th Ireland cap but the holding midfielder has yet to score for his country and would love to put that right at some point.
“Every player likes to score goals but there are a lot of other roles and responsibilities in the team,” he said. “I wouldn't say it's something I'm losing sleep about.
“It would be nice but if I can contribute with a goal or an assist, or any other action that will help us get a result, that's what I'm going to do.
“Any time we pull on the jersey we want to win, it means everything.”
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