The Republic of Ireland will face Czechia in Prague on Thursday for a FIFA World Cup 2026 UEFA qualifying play-off semi-final.
Ireland ended their group stage on a high note, winning their last three matches to secure a play-off place and changing the narrative around head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson.
They defeated Armenia 1-0, followed by a 2-0 win against 10-man Portugal in Dublin. Troy Parrott’s hat-trick led to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Hungary in Budapest.
Ireland team news
Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, who recently extended his contract due to the team’s strong finish, is expected to maintain the strategies that have brought Ireland this far.
With a fully fit squad, he is likely to set up similarly to the matches against Portugal and Hungary. However, Festy Ebosele and Liam Scales will miss out due to suspensions, with Ryan Manning likely stepping in for Scales at left wing-back.
Troy Parrott will likely lead the attack, while seasoned defender Seamus Coleman may start, even if he isn’t fully fit for the entire match.
Jason Knight is expected to take the place of injured Josh Cullen in midfield. New call-up Harvey Vale is eager to make his debut, possibly from the bench.
Ireland predicted lineup
Possible Ireland starting XI: Kelleher; Coleman, O’Brien, Collins, O’Shea, Manning; Molumby, Knight, Azaz; Ogbene, Parrott.
When will the match kick off?
The match will begin at 7:45pm BST on Thursday, March 26th.
How to watch Czechia vs Ireland?
In the UK, the match will be aired live on Amazon Prime Video’s pay-per-view service.
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