England travels to Dublin to face rivals Ireland to kick off the latest edition of the UEFA Nations League in League B with both undergoing managerial changes.
IRE vs ENG Match Details
Date: Friday, 7 September 2024
Time: 17:00 (BST), 21:30 (IST)
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
IRE vs ENG Match Preview
Ireland will begin a new era under Heimir Hallgrimsson when they take on rivals England at Dublin. It will be an early tester for the former Iceland and Jamaica manager to make an instant impact with his new team which has won just twice in this fixture since the first meeting in 1946. After failing to get into Euro 2024, continuing their exile from the tournament since their last qualification in 2016, the Boys in Green dismissed Stephen Kenny with a mixed set of results under the interim spell of former player John O'Shea. Aside from a win over Hungary and holding powerhouse Belgium to a goalless draw, the team failed to impress with just two wins gathered from the last 10 games. Hallgrimsson will want to turn the fortunes for the side in the 2024/25 Nations League season although the fight for promotion to League A will be tough in a group containing the Three Lions, Greece and Finland.
Following repeated heartbreaks after reaching back-to-back finals of the European Championship, Gareth Southgate ended his almost decade-old tenure with England and was replaced by Lee Carsley on an interim basis. The Three Lions’s long exodus for silverware continued and they will not have the opportunity to break the curse until the 2026 World Cup. Relegated from League A in the 2022-23 Nations League campaign, Carsley’s side will not have the chance to fight for the trophy. However, leading them back to the top tier will be nothing short of a reward that might cement a permanent role for the temporary boss. England will be favourites to top their group and starting the campaign with three points will be the expected way to go. The team will be seeking their first win at Dublin since 1964 after four consecutive draws.
IRE vs ENG Recent Form
IRE: LWLDD
ENG: LWDWD
IRE vs ENG Team News
Tino Livramento, Noni Madueke, Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White are four uncapped players called up to the squad after Ben White missed out on personal reasons, Kyle Walker was snubbed and Kieran Trippier called on his retirement from international football following Euro 2024. The injury list for England is elongated so it has affected squad selection with Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney, Luke Shaw and Aaron Ramsdale all missing out.
Ireland has also called up new faces with goalkeeper Max O'Leary and winger Kasey McAteer hoping to earn their first senior caps. The familiar defensive duo of Shane Duffy and Enda Stevens are omitted along with nine other players who were part of the June friendlies. However, 35-year-old Seamus Coleman has retained his spot and will continue to captain the team.
IRE vs ENG Predicted Lineups
Ireland
Kelleher; Coleman, O'Shea, Collins, Brady; Ogbene, Browne, Smallbone, O'Dowda; Ferguson, Robinson
England
Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Maguire, Colwill; Rice, Mainoo; Saka, Eze, Grealish; Kane
IRE vs ENG head-to-head
Played - 17
IRE won - 2
Drawn - 9
ENG won - 6
IRE vs ENG Dream11 Match Prediction
The attacking force of England will exploit Ireland’s rough patch of form to start Lee Carsley’s reign on a positive note. We predict a 3-0 win for the Three Lions.
IRE vs ENG Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Harry Kane
Vice-captain Pick: Bukayo Saka
IRE vs ENG Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Kelleher (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Trent (Cr - 8), Stones (Cr - 8.5), Coleman (Cr - 8.5)
MID: Eze (Cr - 7), Browne (Cr - 8.5), Rice (Cr - 8.5), Grealish (Cr - 8)
FW: Saka (Cr -8.5), Kane (Cr - 9), Robinson (Cr - 8.5)
Vice-captain: Bukayo Saka
Captain: Harry Kane
