Return to Poland is on cards - to play Ukraine

MORE than 44 years since a 3-0 friendly defeat to Poland, the Republic of Ireland are set to return to Lodz to play Ukraine in the Nations League on June 14. While UEFA have yet to formally approve the central Poland city as a neutral venue for Ukraine’s B1 home games against Armenia and Ireland, preparations are already under way. ‘It looks like these matches will be played in Lodz,’ said Adam Kazmierczak, vice-president of the Polish FA, yesterday. The 18,000-capacity Stadion Miejski, home to Widzew Lodz, opened its doors in 2019 for FIFA’s U20 World Cup, staging six matches, including the final. Ireland have played once before in Lodz, in April 1978, when an under-strength team featuring eight players with four caps or less, were turned over by a slick Polish XI that included the likes of Kazimierz Deyna, Grzegorz Lato and Zbigniew Boniek. Meanwhile, sales of tickets have already passed the 3,000 mark for the Republic of Ireland’s Euro U21 qualifiers at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina (June 3) and Montenegro (June 6) in Tallaght Stadium. ‘Since the beginning of the campaign, the players and staff have spoken about achieving something special by qualifying for the European Championships and we want the fans with us as we look to do that,’ said manager Jim Crawford. Back-to-back wins over Sweden have left the Irish U21s with their qualification destiny in their hands. After the Tallaght doubleheader, the U21s will play Italy away on June 14.