Key occasions
“The touring help of the Danish nationwide staff took over about half a block of downtown Helsinki at this time,” writes Kári Tulinius. “There was the normal off-key singing and copious consuming, however what was most notable, nevertheless, was that loads of followers in Finnish shirts had joined them, and the camaraderie was palpable. I ponder what number of of them have been within the stadium to see Christian Eriksen collapse. Shared trauma can bind individuals collectively.”
“Rob Smyth, hope you’re nicely,” says a really well mannered Paul Roche. “Right here’s a Dutch-flavoured Irish tune, or maybe it’s an Irish-flavoured Dutch tune, to will get issues going
Saturday 1 September 2001, 3pm, Lansdowne Street
Eire misplaced 2-0 in France on Thursday, a consequence so predictable that there’s little or no to say concerning the sport.
The state of play in Group B
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France P5 Pts 15
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Netherlands P3 Pts 6
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Greece P4 Pts 6
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Eire P4 Pts 3
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Gibraltar P4 Pts 0
The opposite sport tonight is Greece v Gibraltar, which ought to be an emphatic dwelling win.
Staff information
Stephen Kenny makes two modifications from the France defeat, each at wing-back. Matt Doherty, who is accessible after suspension, and James McClean are available for Jayson Molumby and Enda Stevens. Which means Alan Browne, who performed at proper wing-back in Paris, will transfer into the centre of midfield.
Ronald Koeman has tinkered with the Netherlands facet that hammered Greece on Thursday. Matthijs de Ligt, Mats Wieffer and Donyell Malen are available for Lutsharel Geertruida (who’s injured), Marten de Roon and Wout Weghorst.
Eire (attainable 5-3-2) Bazunu; Doherty, Collins, Duffy, Egan, McClean; Browne, Cullen, Knight; Ogbene, Idah.
Substitutes: Kelleher, O’Leary, O’Shea, Manning, Smallbone, Hendrick, Molumby, Connolly, McGrath, Ebosele, Armstrong, Omobamidele.
Netherlands (attainable 3-4-2-1) Flekken; De Ligt, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, Wieffer, De Jong, Blind; Simons, Gakpo; Malen.
Substitutes: Verbruggen, Noppert, Van de Ven, De Vrij, Weghorst, Lang, Berghuis, Hartman, Reijnders, De Roon, Veerman, Koopmeiners.
Referee Irfan Peljto (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Preamble
For many of Stephen Kenny’s three years as Eire supervisor, a lot of the main focus has been on the long run: altering the fashion of play and constructing a younger facet that would qualify for main tournaments. However the current catches up with us all ultimately, and Kenny has reached the purpose the place, as a sensible man as soon as mentioned, subsequent time there’ll be no subsequent time.
Eire have to beat the Netherlands tonight to keep up a sensible likelihood of qualifying robotically for Euro 2024. (The playoffs are a distinct, more complicated story.) There have been ideas this could possibly be Kenny’s final sport as Eire supervisor. It’s unhappy that it has come to this, particularly as he has been extraordinarily unfortunate with accidents and the draw for qualifying, however soccer has by no means actually been a spot for dreamers.
And but. If Eire play in addition to they did at dwelling to France in March, they are going to bother the Netherlands. A well-known victory definitely isn’t past the realms. For richer or poorer, this could possibly be the defining night time of the Stephen Kenny period.
Kick off 7.45pm.
