The Aviva Stadium is completely sold out for Saturday evening’s clash with England in the opening fixture of the 2024 UEFA Nations League.

New boss Heimir Hallgrímsson faces a baptism of fire against an England team which itself is in transition with Irishman Lee Carsley in place as interim manager and alos naming a team of his own for the first time.

In a different universe Declan Rice and Jack Grealish could have been in green rather than white but that is in the past. Harry Kane is likely to captain England, another with Irish roots.

The sides have men seventeen times down the years with England winning seven, Ireland two and nine finishing all square.

The last time they met in competition was in the qualifying stages of the Euro 1992 competition when the games finished 1-1 home and away. In Italia 90 it was the same score when the teams met in Cagliari and before that was the famous win in Stuttgart during 1988 which kick started the Jack Charlton era for Ireland.

The atmosphere is bound to be electric with so many new dawns rising for both sides and both fan groups. There will be a heavy Garda presence throughout the city with the possibility still of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attending the match with Taoiseach Simon Harris.

The English Daily Telegraph led their coverage this week with a history of the hooliganism which has marred this fixture, with the 1995 abandoned game at the old Lansdowne Road their jumping off point. We think things have moved on but paper doesn’t refuse ink.

England are without stars Jude Bellingham, Ollie Watkins and Phil Foden but will still be a tough test. Ireland welcome back Evan Ferguson to the squad, alongside Adam Idah who has started his Celtic career with a bang.

Build up to the game on RTÉ2 will be from 4 PM.

 

 

 

 

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