MX23RW : Monday, November 25 11:58:51| >> :600:248230:248230:
[monks data]
Republic of Ireland national football team
Nations League | League B
Oct 11, 2020 at 2pm UK
Aviva Stadium
Wales national football team

Rep. Ireland
0 - 0
Wales


Christie (30'), McClean (79')
McClean (84')
FT

Moore (21'), Morrell (83')

Five talking points as Republic of Ireland prepare to face Wales

Five talking points as Republic of Ireland prepare to face Wales
© Reuters
Republic boss Stephen Kenny is still looking for his first win in charge.

The Republic of Ireland return to action on Sunday still smarting from their heart-breaking Euro 2020 play-off semi-final exit in Slovakia.

Stephen Kenny's men launched their Nations League campaign with a 1-1 draw in Bulgaria and a 1-0 home defeat by Finland last month, and will hope to bounce back with a first victory against Wales.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look a some of the talking points surrounding the game.

Bratislava blues

The big screen at he Narodny Stadium displays the final score after Slovakia get the better of the Republic of Ireland on penalties
The big screen at he Narodny Stadium displays the final score after Slovakia get the better of the Republic of Ireland on penalties (Martin Baumann/PA)

Ireland's hopes of making a third successive Euro finals were dashed in the most cruel of fashions at the Narodny Stadium when, after enjoying the better of the game and being denied victory by a post in extra-time, they lost 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out. The wounds from an agonising evening in Slovakia remain raw, but they cannot afford to take any hangover into a game in which they can restore their battered morale.

May the fourth be with you

Kenny's reign as manager was never going to be defined by what happened in Bratislava, a game which, had the coronavirus not intervened, would have taken place on predecessor Mick McCarthy's watch. However, his first three games at the helm have not yielded a win and, while there is a general sense of goodwill towards a man who previously plied his trade largely in Ireland's domestic league, a victory – something the Republic are yet to taste in six Nations League outings – would help to bed him into his role.

Going for goals

Republic of Ireland defender Shane Duffy has scored four of Ireland's last 22 goals in competitive matches
Republic of Ireland defender Shane Duffy has scored four of Ireland's last 22 goals in competitive matches (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Ireland have scored just one goal in 300 minutes of football under their new manager, and that came from central defender Shane Duffy. Indeed, they have scored just 22 in their last 27 competitive matches, with Duffy and winger James McClean contributing four each. Kenny's mission is to instil a more attacking brand of football and the loss of strikers Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah in Slovakia under Covid-19 protocols did not help. Sean Maguire and Daryl Horgan have since been added to a pool of attacking players comprising David McGoldrick, Callum Robinson, Shane Long, Callum O'Dowda and McClean and the manager will be looking for a return on the faith he has invested.

Ringing the changes

Jayson Molumby made is senior Republic of Ireland debut against Finland in September
Jayson Molumby made is senior Republic of Ireland debut against Finland in September (Niall Carson/PA)

Kenny used the first two Nations League fixtures to assess his options ahead of the game in Bratislava and, with a trip to Finland to come on Wednesday evening, needs to manage his resources carefully. He has used the same back five – Darren Randolph, Matt Doherty, Duffy, John Egan and Enda Stevens – in all three games to date, but has tinkered with his midfield and strike-force. His former Under-21s skipper Jayson Molumby could earn a second cap, while Robbie Brady and Jack Byrne will hope for midfield berths, and O'Dowda started both games in the front three last month, but came off the bench on Thursday night after recovering from a groin injury.

Noisy neighbours

Euro 2016 semi-finalists Wales have proved something of a thorn in the Irish side in recent meetings. McClean fired Ireland to a priceless 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory in Cardiff in October 2017 after a 0-0 draw in Dublin during March of the same year. However, Ryan Giggs' men gained revenge 11 months later when a youthful side romped to a 4-1 Nations League win courtesy of goals from Tom Lawrence, Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts before Harry Wilson's strike clinched a 1-0 success at the Aviva Stadium the following month.

ID:417904: cacheID:417904:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10728:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aaron Ramsey celebrates scoring for Wales on November 19, 2019
Read Next:
The main talking points surrounding Wales' clash with Republic of Ireland
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal642014
Q Croatia Croatia62228
3 Scotland flag Scotland62137
4 Poland Poland61144

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France641113
Q Italy Italy641113
3 Belgium Belgium61144
4 Israel Israel61144

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany642014
Q Netherlands Netherlands62319
3 Hungary Hungary61326
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina60242

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain651016
Q Denmark Denmark62228
3 Serbia Serbia61326
4 Switzerland Switzerland60242

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic632111
2 Ukraine Ukraine62228
3 Georgia Georgia62137
4 Albania national flag Albania62137

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England650115
2 Greece Greece650115
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland62046
4 Finland Finland60060

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Norway Norway641113
2 Austria Austria632111
3 Slovenia Slovenia62228
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan60151

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Wales flag Wales633012
2 Turkey Turkey632111
3 Iceland Iceland62137
4 Montenegro Montenegro61053

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Sweden Sweden651016
2 Slovakia Slovakia641113
3 Estonia Estonia61144
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan60151

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania550015
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo540112
3 Cyprus Cyprus62046
4 Lithuania Lithuania60060

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland632111
2 Bulgaria Bulgaria62319
3 Belarus Belarus61417
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg60333

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Macedonia N. Macedonia651016
2 Armenia Armenia62137
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands61326
4 Latvia Latvia61144

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q San Marino flag San Marino42117
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar41306
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein40222

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Republic of Moldova Moldova43019
2 Malta flag Malta42117
3 Andorra flag Andorra40131


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!