Luxembourg v Ireland: Killian Phillips makes first start for Boys In Green
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Ireland take on Luxembourg in an international friendly with kick off at 7.45pm.
Ben Blake brings you all the action.
5 minutes ago
Happy hunting ground
The last time Ireland played at the Stade de Luxembourg, back in November 2021, they enjoyed a 3-0 win under Stephen Kenny thanks to goals from Shane Duffy, Chiedozie Ogbene and Callum Robinson.
Ireland had gone down 1-0 when the sides met in Dublin earlier that year.
7 minutes ago
Five players could make their senior debuts
The late call-up for Stoke City midfielder Bosun Lawal means he joins Max O'Leary, Josh Keeley, John Joe Patrick Finn and Josh Honohan as the uncapped Irish players in tonight's squad.
While 28-year-old O'Leary starts to make his international bow, the other four have been named on the bench.
14 minutes ago
Daniel McDonnell looks ahead to this evening's game
'What Ireland are trying to do is establish their own identity and, while the Icelander does not want basketball matches in the autumn, it's clear he wants big men in his side that might be comfortable on a court,' writes Dan.
Ireland v Luxembourg preview: Heimir Hallgrimsson wants his big men to stand up and be counted
For all the talk of an Irish upturn, watching Portugal claim Nations League glory on Sunday served as a reminder of the heights Heimir Hallgrimsson's side will need to reach if they are to participate in the World Cup qualification discussion.
www.independent.ie
15 minutes ago
Good evening and welcome along. Heimir Hallgrimsson's men are at the Stade de Luxembourg for the second international friendly of this summer window.
Having been denied a confidence-boosting win against one of Africa's top sides Senegal, albeit their second string, by Ismaila Sarr's late equaliser at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night, the Boys in Green take on a nation sitting 31 places below them in the Fifa rankings.
A condensed campaign of World Cup qualifiers is set to begin in September, when Hungary and recently-crowned Nations League champions Portugal will undoubtedly provide much stiffer tests.
However, Icelander Hallgrimsson – who celebrates his 58th birthday today – will be hoping to continue the small signs of progress with a victory and performance to match it here.
Scheduled to kick off at 7.45pm, the game is being shown live on RTÉ 2 and we will be following events closely on the Irish Independent.
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