Republic of Ireland will be looking for their first win of the UEFA Nations League campaign when they take on Finland at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki tomorrow night.
The match, set to kick-off at 7.45pm (9.45pm local time), sees Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson looking to get his first victory on the board when they face the Finns on Thursday, October 10.
Finland will also be looking for their first win of the campaign after their defeats to Greece and England in September, with over 1000 Irish supporters set to travel to Helsinki for the match tomorrow.
Republic of Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson said: “I wouldn’t say a losing streak, but if you are in a downward spiral, it’s good to do something different in a different country, a different environment, shake things up.
“The players are staying together much more and are closer; that’s a good team-building thing to travel and stay somewhere else.
“We have just been continuing to try to implement the principles we’d like to have in play, showing them the good stuff from our last camp and the bad things as well, just trying to learn from the last camp and then on to this one.
“I feel better this camp but that’s mainly what we have been doing—we had maybe five meetings; we are doing more talking than training.”
Republic of Ireland defender Nathan Collins added, “Obviously, it’s a huge moment for me and my family. I probably didn’t take in the moment as much as I should have, but that’s just the way I am,” he says of the captain’s role, which he also filled at home to Greece in the last game.
“My family did, I think they were crying in the stand, honestly, it means a lot to me and my family. I think in this camp, it’s nearly easy being a captain of this team as there are so many leaders.
“It’s been a very positive week, we’ve had a lot of meetings, we’ve had to, it’s part and parcel of international football.
“I think the work we have done on the pitch has been very productive; we’re looking forward to go now and we have a good feeling this week.”
Republic of Ireland Squad: Finland & Greece
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max O’Leary (Bristol City)
Defenders: Festy Ebosele (Watford, on loan from Udinese), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Mark McGuinness (Luton Town), Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Liam Scales (Celtic), Robbie Brady (Preston North End).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen).
Forwards: Adam Idah (Celtic), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Chiedozie Ogbene (Ipswich Town), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar).
UEFA Nations League: Fixtures
10/10 – Finland vs. Ireland, Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, 7.45pm (9.45pm local time)
13/10 – Greece vs. Ireland, Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Athens, 7.45pm (9.45pm local time)
Match Details
Fixture: Finland v Ireland
Competition: UEFA Nations League
Kick-off: 7.45pm (9.45pm local)
Location: Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Date: Thursday, October 10
TV: RTE
Match Officials
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (MKD)
Assistant Referee 1: Dejan Kostadinov (MKD)
Assistant Referee 2: Goce Petreski (MKD)
Fourth Official: Igor Stojchevski (MKD)
Video Assistant Referee: Mario Zebec (CRO)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Duje Strukan (CRO)
