Leeds United and Bournemouth join race to sign Ireland international Finn Azaz
Premier League sides Bournemouth and Leeds United have joined the race to sign Ireland's Finn Azaz in the summer transfer window.
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Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Nathan Collins says crushing Wembley defeat to England helped Ireland to reset
As the clouds of doom hovered above the Ireland squad leaving Wembley last November, it was hard to see any silver lining. The Boys in Green were on the receiving end of a brutal second-half beating as England drove home their numerical advantage after Liam Scales' red card. Scoreless at the break, Ireland were under the cosh but holding their own before the floodgates opened as England scored five without reply to leave Ireland dazed. Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon and Conor Gallagher scored three goals in five manic minutes, before Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis added the gloss. It was a brutal reality check that this Irish team under Heimir Hallgrimsson has a long way to go before they can entertain the notion of qualifying for tournaments. The relentless hamster wheel that is English club football afforded those bruised Irish players a quick and natural distraction from what had unfolded.. It may have been four long months until the next international game, but they didn't have to dwell on their Wembley woe for too long over the festive period. But Nathan Collins has revealed how that crushing defeat to England afforded him and his team-mates the opportunity to reset going into an important World Cup year. Tonight in Luxembourg, Ireland will hope to pick up a third win in four games of 2025, and doing so would extend the unbeaten run to four. All of which matters, according to Collins, going into September's opening games of the quick-fire World Cup campaign, against Hungary and Armenia. Reflecting on that chastening day at Wembley, Collins said last night: "For me personally, it probably created a bit more hunger. 'Especially more hunger and desire to do better for Ireland. That one hurt a lot of people and affected a lot of people. 'So it was nice to have a little break away from people, reset and go again. The hurt in the dressing room after, it was not a nice place. 'But for me, it created a new hunger. It definitely reset me, to want to do better and improve for the next camp. It might have worked in a good way for us." Ireland are coming from such a low base that any sign of progress this year was going to represent a step in the right direction. And the back to back wins over Bulgaria in the March Nations League playoff set solid foundations in that respect. Friday's 1-1 draw against Senegal was another positive, even if Ireland failed to see out a winning position, and victory in Luxembourg would keep the momentum going. 'I feel the performance against Senegal was a really big step,' said Brentford centre-back Collins. 'We were so comfortable in the game, so comfortable in our shape. 'We performed to a very high degree and it's about pushing that, growing that and getting better. We're building a squad and players are challenging other players.' Collins, who played every minute of Brentford's Premier League campaign, continued: 'I just think there's a bit more of a base now in the team, a bit of solidity. 'Last summer, it was a bit all up in the air, wasn't it? Just everything regarding Ireland at that time. But now the way the squad is, the way we have our manager here, everything is solidified, we're building our base. We're growing with that, we're working from that and we're trying to create momentum for us to get better.' Identifying areas where Ireland must improve is also important, according to Collins who said: 'The chances we conceded against Senegal, we could have defended better. "If we want to get to the next stage we have to see out games like that. We're definitely good enough to go score another goal but also not concede or give them chances. 'Tonight is going to be another tough challenge, but it's another game for us to get better as a team and try to get another result to keep us going.' But Collins knows that Ireland will have to pick up some big results in the World Cup campaign, if they are serious about reaching the finals. The Ireland squad gathered around the TV on Sunday evening to watch group rivals Portugal clinch the Nations League title after a penalty shootout win over Spain. 'We know how good their squad is and their depth of players is unbelievable,' said Collins. :But if we do what the manager wants from us, we'll create our own problems against Portugal. We're a completely different team to Spain and will create completely different problems and defend in a different way. 'We'll frustrate them in ways that they won't like. We know how good they'll be, but they have to know how tough a game it will be for them against us'.
Irish Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Caoimhin Kelleher insight as Brentford manager prepares to join Tottenham
Caoimhin Kelleher is watching developments at Brentford like a hawk as Tottenham close in on Thomas Frank as their new boss. The Ireland goalkeeper only joined the Bees from Liverpool last week in a move that could be worth up to €21 million. But ahead of tonight's international friendly in Luxembourg, Kelleher faces the prospect of never playing for the man who signed him, with Frank set to move across London. 'We have been joking about it, but he's alright,' said Brentford and Ireland defender Nathan Collins of Kelleher's unique situation. 'Brentford is a good club and whatever happens they will have a plan. There are good people in the back, so there will be a plan. 'If (Frank) stays, even better. We can only see what happens.' Collins admits the speculation over the Brentford manager's future is hard to avoid, as Spurs seek a successor to sacked Ange Postecoglu. Frank is close to ending his near seven-year stay with the Bees and Collins said: 'Every time I turn on the TV, I see it. I can't get away from it unfortunately. 'But I have my own problems with the game tonight, staying fit and looking after myself. I haven't taken too much of an interest." But Collins is thrilled to be joining forces with Kelleher at club level and feels the connection they build will only help Ireland. Collins continued: 'He shows his qualities as a keeper here, but it will be even better when we can train together every day and build our relationship a bit more, on and off the field. 'It will help Brentford and Ireland. I'm buzzing for him, it's a great move for him and he deserves to be a No. 1 at a club.' And asked if he played a role in recruiting Kelleher from Premier League champions Liverpool, Collins said: 'A few people asked me what he was like and obviously I spoke highly of him, I'm not going to lie. 'But no, listen, he done it all himself - he's shown what he can do on the highest level of football for Liverpool. He deserves to be a No. 1 at a good club.'
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
De Bruyne breaks Welsh hearts in seven-goal thriller
Wales suffered a dramatic 4-3 World Cup qualifying defeat to Belgium as their incredible comeback from three goals down eventually proved in vain. Kevin De Bruyne was the Belgium match-winner two minutes from time to deny Wales a precious point in Brussels. Belgium had seized complete control inside 27 minutes as Romelu Lukaku, with a controversial penalty, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku silenced the loud 4,500-strong following from Wales. But Harry Wilson gave Wales hope from the spot on the stroke of half-time, and cool finishes from Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson turned the tie on its head. Almost every goal had a laborious VAR check and a late Lukaku effort was chalked off - resulting in both Wales manager Craig Bellamy and his Belgium counterpart Rudi Garcia being booked - but there was no saving the visitors as De Bruyne volleyed home at the far post. Wales had lost top spot in Group J before kick-off courtesy of North Macedonia's win in Kazakhstan. Bellamy's unbeaten record would also disappear - exactly a year to the day since Wales had lost for the last time - in his 10th game in charge. It was a duel between familiar foes with this being their 11th meeting in 13 years. Neco Williams was absent after being taken off on a stretcher in Friday's victory over Liechtenstein, and Bellamy made three changes with Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Jordan James recalled. Aston Villa midfielder Tielemans led a Belgian team who featured several faces well known to Premier League fans. Bellamy had promised a bold approach and Thomas was positive in the first minute to deliver a cross into the six-yard box that no-one in the middle could get on the end of. But Wales crumbled in the space of 12 minutes after Johnson was adjudged to have handled De Bruyne's powerful shot. It appeared a harsh decision as Johnson's arm was close to his body, but Lukaku rolled the penalty home with ease. Belgium worked an overload down the right four minutes later and Maxim De Cuyper found Tielemans, who stroked the ball high past Karl Darlow in the Wales goal. Matz Sels instantly denied David Brooks one-on-one at the other end, and the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper shovelled aside Ben Davies' follow-up effort. But Belgium menaced with every attack and Doku broke clear to set up De Bruyne, who was inches away from adding another. Doku's footwork had dazzled and Wales had no answer when the Manchester City winger cut inside Davies. Darlow got a hand to the low shot, but could not prevent it from crossing the line. De Cuyper and Leandro Trossard were booked for cynical fouls on Johnson as Wales revived, and the visitors were given hope in first-half stoppage time. Sels made contact with Mepham's head as he attempted to fist away a Thomas corner and Wilson claimed his 14th international goal from the penalty spot. Dodi Lukebakio missed a sitter within seconds of his half-time arrival and Belgium were punished when Wilson spotted Thomas unmarked on the left. The new Stoke signing kept his composure to fire under Sels for his first Wales goal. Wales wanted more and substitute Mark Harris sent a golden chance wide. Johnson nodded the leveller after Thomas had headed Wilson's cross back across goal, but De Bruyne had the final word to break Welsh hearts. Elsewhere, sacked Italy manager Luciano Spalletti bowed out with a victory after his side laboured to an uninspired 2-0 home win over Moldova thanks to goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso. Spalletti announced his own dismissal on Sunday following Italy's 3-0 loss in Norway in their opening group game on Friday, but took charge for one final time at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia. Italy struggled early on before Raspadori put the hosts ahead five minutes before the break and Cambiaso doubled the lead five minutes after the interval but they failed to build on their two-goal cushion. Norway, who won 1-0 in Estonia with Erling Haaland netting the winner, top Group I on 12 points from four games, with Israel on six points after three matches while Italy are third with three points from their two games. In Group L, Croatia hammered Czechia 5-1. Andrej Kramaric gave Croatia the lead just before half-time but Tomas Soucek got an equaliser 13 minutes after the break. A Luka Modric penalty gave Croatia back the advantage and they sealed the win with goals from Ivan Perisic, an Ante Budimir penalty, and a second from Kramaric.
