April has been a significant month for Irish football, with both the men’s and women’s national teams recording key results. From Nations League success and emotional retirements to major club achievements and injury news, here’s a full update on the Republic of Ireland’s latest soccer stories.

Women’s Team Soaring Under Carla Ward

The Republic of Ireland women’s national team delivered back-to-back wins over Greece in the UEFA Nations League B. A dominant 4-0 away win in Heraklion was followed by a 2-1 victory at home in Dublin, keeping Carla Ward’s side within striking distance of Group 2 leaders Slovenia.

Marissa Sheva, Kyra Carusa, Jessie Stapleton, and Amber Barrett all found the net in the first fixture, while Barrett and Anna Patten sealed the second win. These results place Ireland just three points off top spot with promotion still very much in play.

Louise Quinn Retires After 121 Caps

Amid the celebrations, veteran defender Louise Quinn announced her retirement from international football. The 34-year-old departs with 121 caps and 16 goals, having played a key role in Ireland’s World Cup qualification and their historic game at the Aviva Stadium. Captain Katie McCabe led the tributes, calling Quinn “a warrior, a mentor and a friend.”

Men’s Team Secure Nations League Status

The men’s team defeated Bulgaria 2-1 in the Nations League playoff, ensuring their place in League B. Goals from Chiedozie Ogbene and Alan Browne helped secure a 4-2 aggregate win. Stephen Kenny’s side will now turn attention to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with fixtures against Hungary, Armenia and Portugal on the horizon.

Kelleher Shines as Bazunu Suffers

Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher lifted his first Premier League title after stepping up as first-choice goalkeeper in Alisson’s absence. The Cork native impressed during the title run-in and may now face a decision on his club future, with Liverpool linked to Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Meanwhile, Gavin Bazunu returned to Southampton early from his loan spell at Standard Liège after suffering a knee injury. The setback raises concerns about his fitness for Ireland’s summer fixtures.

How Football is Improving the Online Gambling Industry

Since launching in 2014, Bitcasino.io has set the benchmark for crypto and Bitcoin casinos, offering players over 2,000 games in various categories. The platform takes multiple advanced steps to defend player safety and make sure all games are fair. People seeking crypto-based online gambling should pick Bitcasino.io as their preferred platform.

Bitcasino.io invests in sports and e-sports events globally by supporting their growth through both sponsorships and partnerships. The platform sponsors teams to support the growth of both the gambling and sports industries. As more people use cryptocurrencies in sports and entertainment, Bitcasino.io leads the industry by developing new ways for players to enjoy the experience.

The post Latest News in Irish Soccer appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Belgium v France will kick-off at 19:45 tonight, Thursday 7th October in the Allianz Arena in Torino, Italy. German referee Daniel Siebert will take charge of the game.

The match will be shown live on Virgin Media Two and Virgin TV Go.

Belgium once again finds themselves ranked number one in the world but with no silverware to prove it. They have shown their quality, winning eight of their last nine games only losing to Italy in the Euro 2020 quarterfinal.

Most of their team has reached and past their peak but they will want youngster Jeremy Doku to provide flair and energy on the week tonight.

This looks like one of the greatest France squads that the country has produced but their mentality looks shaken. After five straight draws in 90 minutes, they finally beat Finland 2-0 in their last World Cup qualifier.

The French players’ ego will still be bruised since losing to Switzerland in Euro 2020 and they will need a victory to boost them.

For two neighbors that share languages, they do not face each other very often competitively. Since 2011, they have played four times, ending twice in draws and each team claiming a victory.

The last crossed blades in the 2018 World Cup semi-final which the French won 1-0 on their way to winning the competition.

When Roberto Martinez took over Belgium in 2016, the team would stay in an airport hotel and borrow training facilities.

Today, he shows @goal the new centre he helped to make a reality pic.twitter.com/WOMfZl42d9

— Goal (@goal) October 7, 2021

Belgium v France Probable Starting Teams

Belgium

Formation

3-4-3

Probable Starting 11

Courtois (GK), Vertonghen, Denayer, Alderweireld, Hazard, Tielemans, Witsel, Castagne, Doku, Lukaku, De Bruyne.

Injuries / Suspensions

Meunier (Knee injury)

France

Formation

4-3-1-2

Probable Starting 11

Lloris (GK), Hernández, Kimpembe, Varane, Pavard, Pogba, Tchouméni, Rabiot, Griezmann, Benzema, Mbappé.

Injuries / Suspensions

Martial (Knock)

"Kylian is happy to be here. We cannot go back in time."

Didier Deschamps insists no problems with Kylian Mbappe despite the player claiming he needed more support from his teammates after missing a crucial penalty that led to France getting knocked out of the Euros pic.twitter.com/HsyIGQfnDH

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 7, 2021

Betting

Belgium 15/8

Draw 2/1

France 6/4

Score Prediction

Both teams are made up of sturdy defenses and world-class attacks. The opposing managers will be trying to cancel each other out but from a neutrals perspective, let’s hope that it is full of goals.

Expect this game to end 3-2 to France.

Remember that Benzema is a pure genius. pic.twitter.com/YEMQnvulCD

— Real Madrid Videos (@RMAVideos) October 5, 2021

To read more in-depth and up-to-date club and international football news, click here.

The post Belgium v France – Preview, Betting, Probable Starting Teams appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Italy v Spain kicks off at 19:45 tonight, Wednesday, 6th October in the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, Italy. Russian referee Sergei Karasev will take charge of the game.

To watch the match, it will be shown live on Virgin Media Two and Virgin TV Go.

Roberto Mancini’s Italy has become the team to beat in Europe. With 25 unbeaten matches at home, they are a force to be reckoned with. Although, their form in the last international break was not as stellar as usual after drawing with Switzerland and Bulgaria before beating Lithuania.

The national team is still striving to make their team better even by the smallest margins. For this match, Puma has designed a jersey for the Azzuri that only weighs 72 grams. Maybe these tiny details could make the difference.

Spain has had an up-and-down summer. Their very young team surprised many by reaching the Euro 2020 semi-finals after not looking too convincing in the early stages of the competition.

Now, Luis Enrique and his team will want to build. Last month they won two of their three matches, beating off Kosovo and Georgia but falling to Sweden.

This has been a very even affair in recent years. In their last ten meetings, there have been five draws, while Spain was victorious on three occasions, most recently in 2017. Their most recent match was the Euro 2020 semifinal which Italy claimed the win in a penalty shootout.

Italy Ultraweave

In tonight's game vs Spain, Italy will wear a new version of their home shirt featuring 'Ultraweave' technology.

The shirt features less panels and less seams which means it weighs in at just 72 grams. It's Puma's lightest ever football shirt. pic.twitter.com/KYKUC4KiFz

— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) October 6, 2021

Italy v Spain Probable Starting Teams

Italy

Formation

4-3-3

Probable Starting 11

Donnarumma (GK), Emerson, Chiellini, Bonucci, Di Lorenzo, Veratti, Jorginho, Insigne, Kean, Chiesa.

Injuries / Suspensions

Pessina (Hamstring injury), Immobile (Muscle injury)

Spain

Formation

4-3-3

Probable Starting 11

Simon (GK), Reguilon, Garcia, Laporte, Azpilicueta, Merino, Busquets, Koke, Oyarzabal, Torres, Sarabia.

Injuries / Suspensions

None

"We will try to manage the game better."

Spain boss Luis Enrique previews their UEFA Nations League semi-final against Italy. pic.twitter.com/ZgzTE37QLN

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 6, 2021

Betting

Italy 6/5

Draw 19/10

Spain 13/5

Score Prediction

It would be next to impossible to bet against the European Champions when they are at home. With the unbelievable record of going 37 matches and counting unbeaten, it seems that they are unstoppable and this inexperienced Spain team will not change that.

Expect this game to end 2-0 to the Italians, setting themselves up for another final this year.

OFFICIAL: Ciro Immobile has sustained a muscle injury and his recovery time will be assessed in the coming days.

… Moise Kean to replace him in Italy.#JFC | #ITA pic.twitter.com/mIfaCecoHV

— Max Statman (@emaxstatman) October 2, 2021

To read more in-depth and up-to-date international and club football news, click here.

The post Italy v Spain – Preview, Betting, Probable Starting Teams, Where to Watch appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Firstly, Kenny’s side will face England at Wembley Stadium on Thursday, November 12. Secondly, they travel to the Cardiff City Stadium to play Wales on Sunday, November 15. Then the squad will return home to host Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday, November 18.

Luton Town striker James Collins has been called into the squad for the first time under Kenny, while captain Séamus Coleman returns following injury.

Portsmouth striker Ronan Curtis and Wycombe Wanderers winger Daryl Horgan keep their places in the squad after impressing against Finland last October.

Shamrock Rovers midfielder Jack Byrne will link up with the squad ahead of the UEFA Nations League match against Wales.

The squad will meet up on Sunday, November 8, in London ahead of the friendly against England on Thursday.

Republic of Ireland Squad

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth).

Defenders: Séamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Kevin Long (Burnley), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion).

Midfielders: Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Harry Arter (Nottingham Forest), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jayson Molumby (Brighton and Hove Albion), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers).

Forwards: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), James Collins (Luton Town), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers).

Republic of Ireland Fixtures
International Friendly
12th November 2020 – England v Ireland, Wembley Stadium – 8pm

UEFA Nations League
15th November 2020 – Wales v Ireland, Cardiff City Stadium – 5pm
18th November 2020 – Ireland v Bulgaria, Aviva Stadium – 7.45pm

The post Stephen Kenny names 26-man squad for November’s games appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Shane Duffy played a captain’s role as his equaliser against Bulgaria in injury time gave the Republic of Ireland a 1-1 draw in their UEFA Nations League game in Sofia tonight.

A Bozhidar Kraev goal in the 56th minute gave Bulgaria the lead despite an impressive display from the Republic of Ireland before the new Celtic signing Duffy equalised with a powerful header from a corner to give his side a point.

With Stephen Kenny beginning his tenure as national team manager, the former Dundalk FC manager gave a senior international debut to 19-year-old Adam Idah, and also named new Tottenham signing Matt Doherty instead of Séamus Coleman, Callum O’Dowda started, while the Dubliner also chose James McCarthy for his first international game since 2016.

Bulgaria coach Georgi Dermendzhiev made numerous changes to the side that beat the Czech Republic in their last Euro 2020 qualifier with only keeper Georgi Georgiev, defenders Strahil Popov and Petar Zanev and midfielders Georgi Kostadinov and Kristiyan Malinov surviving.

Despite retaining possession well, showing some composure on the ball, and pressing impressively in the opening 45 minutes, the game was scoreless at the interval, as Aaron Connolly had the best chance for Kenny’s side during that period.

Bozhidar Kraev, who had been pretty anonymous throughout the game, broke the deadlock in the 56th minute. Nedelev sent a perfect pass up the middle for the unmarked Kraev, who has been played onside by Shane Duffy. The Bulgarian took a touch before slotting the ball low past Darren Randolph and into the net.

Just when it looked as though Stephen Kenny’s managerial stint would begin with a loss, Shane Duffy cropped up at the far post in the 93rd minute to score from a Robbie Brady-taken corner kick. Brady, who had won the corner, curled the ball into the Bulgarian penalty area, finding Duffy, who headed past goalkeeper Georgiev to claim the equaliser.

Final score: Bulgaria 1 Republic of Ireland 1.

Republic of Ireland: Randolph, Doherty, Egan, Duffy, Stevens, Hendrick, McCarthy, Hourihane, Connolly, Idah, O’Dowda.

Bulgaria: Georgiev, Popov, Zanev, Dimitrov, Nedyalkov, Malinov, Kostadinov, Ivanov, Kraev, Delev, Nedelev.

The post Late Duffy goal gives Ireland a point appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Several changes have been made pushing Ireland’s last four games in group back by a few days. This means two blocks of three games will have to be played in the space of a few days. RTE report that the changes were made to allow for the Euro 2020 play offs which will be played In October or November now due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Stephen Kenny’s first match in charge will be against Bulgaria on September 3rd. This will be away from home. Three days later they will host Finland on September 6th.

It will then be the turn of the Euro 2020 play off where Ireland will travel to Slovakia on October 8th. Ireland will then play Wales at the Aviva on the 11th of October, before flying to Finland three days later. Should Ireland beat Slovakia they will then play the play off final where they will face Bosnia or Northern Ireland. If they do reach the final they will once again likely have to play three games in a row. They will take on Wales on November 15th,before playing Bulgaria on the 18th of November.

SEPTEMBER

Thursday 3 – Nations League B – Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland (7.45pm)

Sunday 6 – Nations League B – Republic of Ireland v Finland (5pm)

OCTOBER

Thursday 8 – Euro 2020 play-off semi-final – Slovakia v Republic of Ireland (7.45pm)

Sunday 11 – Nations League B – Republic of Ireland vs Wales (2pm)

Wednesday 14 – Nations League B – Finland vs Republic of Ireland (5pm)

NOVEMBER

Thursday 12 – Euro 2020 play-off final – Slovakia/Republic of Ireland v Bosnia/Northern Ireland

Sunday 15 – Nations League B – Wales v Republic of Ireland (5pm)

Wednesday 18 – Nations League B – Republic of Ireland vs Bulgaria (7.45pm

The post Ireland’s Nations League fixtures confirmed appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

These games will be played alongside the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final away to Slovakia on October 8^th and a potential play-off final against Bosnia & Herzegovina or Northern Ireland on November 12^th.

Stephen Kenny’s side will begin with a trip to Sofia to play Bulgaria in Group B4 of the UEFA Nations League on Thursday, September 3^rd with a 7.45pm kick-off, Irish time. Finland will provide the opposition for Kenny’s first home game three days later, on Sunday, September 6^th, with a 5pm kick-off.

The Republic of Ireland will then travel to Slovakia in the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final on Thursday, October 8^th at 7.45pm Irish time before hosting Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, October 11^th at 2pm. Kenny’s team will then be back on the road again, this time in Helsinki, when playing Finland on Wednesday, October 14^th at 5pm Irish time.

Stephen Kenny will take Ireland to Cardiff for their penultimate Nations League group game against Wales on Sunday, November 15^th with a 5pm kick-off, while Bulgaria will visit Dublin 4 on Wednesday, November 18^th for a 7.45pm kick-off.

Republic of Ireland’s UEFA Nations League Fixtures (All times Irish times)

Thursday, September 3^rd
Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland (7:45pm)

Sunday, September 6^th
Republic of Ireland v Finland (5pm)

Sunday, October 11^th
Republic of Ireland v Wales (2pm)

Wednesday, October 14^th
Finland v Republic of Ireland (5pm)

Sunday, November 15^th
Wales v Republic of Ireland (5pm)

Wednesday, November 18^th
Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria (7:45pm)

The post Republic of Ireland’s 2020 fixtures – dates & kick-off times appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.