Ireland v England – TV channel, team news and betting odds for Nations League tie

The Republic of Ireland play England in Heimir Hallgrímsson’s first game as manager in the Nations League on Saturday evening.

The Aviva Stadium clash is likely to draw a crowd of 50,000 as Ireland get their Nations League campaign underway at home. Kick-off for the game on Saturday is 5pm. 

Ireland will be hoping for good fortune as they have only beaten England twice in their history, once in a friendly in 1949 and most famously at Euro 88 when Ray Houghton stuck the only goal of the game to the net. The last time the teams met in 2020, England ran out 3-0 winners.

TV CHANNEL

The match will be aired on RTÉ2 television with coverage starting at 4pm. It will also be shown on the RTÉ Player and ITV 1 in the UK.

TEAM NEWS

The big news for Ireland is the fitness of Brighton’s Evan Ferguson who hasn’t played for Ireland since November 2023 and has been out of action with injury since March of this year. It’s looking likely he will lead the line for Hallgrímsson’s first game at the helm.

Ireland still have injury concerns, however, with Josh Cullen, Mikey Johnston and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu all sidelined. Caoimhín Kelleher, who remains at Liverpool despite being heavily linked with a summer move, will start between the sticks.

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Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea, Seamus Coleman and Matt Doherty are all fit, while Jake O’Brien who was the subject of a big summer move from Lyon in France to Everton in the Premier League, is also in line to appear.

Ireland look short in midfield with just Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Browne (Sunderland), Jason Knight (Bristol City) and the newcomer Kasey McAteer (Leicester City) named in that line in the dquad.

Ipswich Town’s star Sammie Szmodics is likely to feature while Celtic’s Adam Idah and Troy Parrott are also available up front along with Ferguson.

IRELAND SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max O’Leary (Bristol City). 

Defenders: Séamus 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). 

Forwards: 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).

Jude Bellingham is the big injury absence for England as former Republic of Ireland player and new temporary England manager Lee Carsley takes charge of his first game. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins are also sidelined and won’t play at the Aviva.

ENGLAND SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United).

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Rico Lewis (Manchester City), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Conor Gallagher (Atlético Madrid), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Angel Gomes (Lille), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal).

Forwards; Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

BETTING ODDS

England are the overwhelming favourites at 2/5 with Ireland priced up at odds of 11/2 to win the game. The draw, which would be an excellent result for Ireland, is a 3/1 shot.