A NIGHT IN NOVEMBER9

Republic to host Northern Ireland in autumn friendly

THE Republic of Ireland will entertain Northern Ireland in a friendly match this autumn.

It will be the first senior men’s game between the two countries since May 2011 and the first time Michael O’neill and Martin O’neill have met as rival international managers.

The match at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Thursday, November 15, falls on a UEFA Nations League game day.

But as neither country has a competitive fixture on that date, the game will be used instead by both teams to prepare for the final round of Group B matches the following weekend. Northern Ireland host Austria at Windsor Park on Sunday, November 18, while the Republic of Ireland travel to Denmark on the following day.

Northern Ireland Manager Michael O’neill said: “UEFA made it mandatory that we play a friendly on that date and when we looked at the options, travelling to Dublin made a lot of sense.

“It means that we can stay on the island for the week, train in our usual environment and play a game that will be a good test for us ahead of the Austria match. Both countries qualified for EURO 2016 and both narrowly missed out on qualification for Russia, so it will be an evenly matched and hard-fought contest.

“From a personal point of view I am looking forward to managing a team against Martin, a manager who I hugely respect and admire. Qualification for EURO 2020 is our No1 priority and with the UEFA Nations League a potential route to the tournament this game means we will be as prepared as possible for the Austria match a few days later.”

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RIVALS Michael O’neill and Republic boss Martin O’neill