Republic of Ireland start their UEFA Nations League campaign in front of a sold-out Aviva Stadium for a hotly-anticipated tie against UEFA EURO 2024 finalists England. 

Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson is set to take charge of his first match as Head Coach following his appointment in July as he looks to build a successful UEFA Nations League campaign heading into the FIFA World Cup qualifying stage next year. 

It is England's first match since losing the UEFA EURO 2024 final with former Ireland international Lee Carsley in charge as Interim Head Coach following the departure of Gareth Southgate. 

Match Details

Fixture: Republic of Ireland v England
Competition: UEFA Nations League
Date: Saturday, September 7
Kick-off: 5pm
Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
TV: RTE
Tickets: SOLD OUT

Match Officials

Referee: José Maria Sánchez (ESP)
Assistant 1: Iñigo Prieto (ESP)
Assistant 2: José Naranjo (ESP)
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martinez Munuera (ESP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Raúl Cabańero (ESP)
Fourth Official: Juan Luis Pulido Santana (ESP)

Team News

Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson has confirmed he has a fully fit squad to choose from for tomorrow's UEFA Nations League opener against England.

MD-1 Press Conference v England 

Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson: “I’ve been briefed on those things (playing against England). I think for us coaches it’s probably not necessary to motivate the players to play against England. It’s probably the opposite for us, to just remind them what they should be doing on the pitch, focus on the tactics etc.

"That has been kind of what we have been talking about. It has probably been to cool them more down than to get them excited and motivated.

“I think that comes from within them, to do good and motivated. So we can say it’s more our job to cool them down and get them focused on what they should be doing on the pitch.

“I’m really excited, first and foremost I’m excited to feel the atmosphere, everybody is talking about how good it is and I know it’s going to be massive against England."

Ireland captain Seamus Coleman: “Yeah it’s been good, a lot of new information for us. First and foremost, he is good man and he wants to do well for the national team,” the Everton defender said.

“He’s come into a good group of lads who are desperate to do well for Ireland as well. So we’re all looking forward to it. We’ve all been working hard, we’ve all been taking in as much as we can, and we wish him all the best with the journey ahead. It doesn't matter how long the manager has been here, you should always be trying to impress on a daily basis anyway.

“There's no God-given right to play for your country, there's no God-given right to play for your club, you've got to turn up everyday in training and give your best while you can.

“Then it's up to the manager to decide who he plays and who he doesn't. So long as I know I'm giving my all day-in and day-out at training that's all I can control.”

Match Facts - Republic of Ireland v England 

- Republic of Ireland are set to host England for the first time since a goalless draw in a friendly in June 2015. In a competitive match, it’s the first time since a November 1990 European Championship qualifier, drawn 1-1 with Tony Cascarino cancelling out David Platt’s opener for England.
- England won their last meeting with the Republic of Ireland in November 2020 – they haven’t won consecutive games against them since doing so with wins in 1980 and 1985.
- This is England’s first game without Gareth Southgate in charge since a 1-0 win over Slovakia in September 2016 in Sam Allardyce’s only match in charge. Including caretakers, only four managers have lost their first game in charge of the Three Lions: Alf Ramsey (2-5 vs France in 1963), Howard Wilkinson (0-2 vs France in 1999), Peter Taylor (0-1 vs Italy in 2000) and Stuart Pearce (2-3 vs Netherlands in 2012).
- Republic of Ireland didn’t win any of their first 12 matches in the UEFA Nations League (D5 L7) but won two of their last four in 2022 (D1 L1), beating Scotland and Armenia.
- England have shipped the opening goal in each of their last four matches, all in the knockout stages of EURO 2024 (W2 D1 L1). They haven’t conceded the opener in five games in a row since between November 1953 and June 1954.
- England have scored just 13 goals in 11 games in 2024, having netted 26 in 10 games in 2023. Their 2024 average of 1.2 goals per game is their lowest in a year since 2000 (exactly one per game, 11 goals in 11 games).
- Heimir Hallgrímsson will take charge of the Republic of Ireland for the first time in this match. He was in joint charge of Iceland when they knocked England out of EURO 2016 with a 2-1 win; the only manager to defeat England with two different nations is Bora Milutinovic, in 1985 with Mexico and 1993 with the USA.
- Cole Palmer has a goal and an assist in his last two England appearances (assist vs Netherlands, goal vs Spain), coming off the bench in each game. The last Chelsea player to net in consecutive England matches was Frank Lampard between September 2012 and May 2013 (five in a row), with the last game in that run coming against the Republic of Ireland.

Republic of Ireland Squad - England & Greece

Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max O'Leary (Bristol City). 
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), Liam Scales (Celtic), Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City), Robbie Brady (Preston North End).
Midfielders: Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Browne (Sunderland), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City).
Attackers: Adam Idah (Celtic), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Chiedozie Ogbene (Ipswich Town), Callum Robinson (Cardiff City), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar).

UEFA Nations League - Fixtures

07/09 - Ireland v England, Aviva Stadium, 5pm 
10/09 - Ireland v Greece, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm