INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL
John O’Shea, Ireland’s interim head coach, announced his squad of players for the two friendly internationals this coming weekend at the Aviva Stadium. On Saturday, Ireland will play Belgium with a 5pm kick-off and the following Tuesday will play Switzerland with a 7.45pm kick-off.
The squad is interesting and includes three new players who have not been involved at senior level before.
Sammie Szmodics has been scoring goals for Blackburn Rovers and is the top scorer with 21 goals and has scored a further six goals in cup competitions this season. Ireland have lacked a goal scorer since Robbie Keane retired.
We are delighted to see a “local” get a call up to the squad. Youghal’s Jake O’Brien who was playing with Crystal Palace and was transferred to Lyon in Ligue 1 has been impressive this season and definitely deserves his call up. It will be a wonderful honour for the Youghal club should Jake get capped in any of the two games next week.
Also called into the squad is Finn Azaz, who is having an excellent season at midfield for Middlesbrough.
There is also great news with team captain Seamus Coleman back in the squad since the injury that ruled him out for most of last season. Robbie Brady and Callum O’Dowda are also back.
Both games will be a wonderful opportunity for all players to show O’Shea the faith he has shown in them and also to show the new manager of the Irish team, who will be announced next month, that they are good enough to wear the green jersey.
Saturday’s game against Belgium appears to be a sell out with the 5pm kick-off suiting all the fans from down the country. The one big disappointment is Kevin de Bruyne will not be travelling as he has been playing with a recurring injury and he has been advised to rest. With ten league games remaining for Manchester City and Belgium playing in the Euros in June, de Bruyne is one of the most important players for both City and Belgium. Belgium players who will be known to the Irish fans and will be playing in Dublin are Romelu Lukaku who is now with Roma, Jeremy Doku playing with Man City and Leandro Trossard playing with Arsenal.
We believe that regardless of the result of the two games, O’Shea is unlikely to be offered the position of head coach due to his lack of experience at international level. This may cause a problem for the FAI, especially if the results are in Ireland’s favour. This will then give O’Shea ammunition to be entrusted with the position of head coach. But all we can do is wait and see and wish the Waterford man the very best in the two fixtures.
Whoever will be announced as the new head coach, he will have two friendly fixtures in June with Hungary as visitors to the Aviva on Tuesday, 4th June and a week later, Ireland play Portugal in Averio.
The UEFA Nations League commences in September with the Republic of Ireland in Group B1, along with England, Greece and Finland.
Ireland’s first game in the Nations League will be at the Aviva against England on Saturday 5th September with a 5pm kick-off. Three days after the game in the Aviva Ireland will also be at home to Greece.
The Nations League continues in October and will see Ireland play two away games. On Thursday, 10th October v Finland with a 7.45pm start and on Sunday, 13th October v Greece in Athens with a 7.45pm kick-off.
On Thursday, 14th November Ireland will be back at the Aviva for the visit of Finland and on Sunday, 17th November, Ireland complete their group games when they travel to Wembley to play England.
This Thursday, March 22nd Jim Crawford’s U21 team will play San Marino at the San Marino Stadium in the UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers. On form and from we have seen of the Irish team’s performances when they play at Turner’s Cross, we expect them to win.