International Friendly Preview: Republic of Ireland -v- Switzerland

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

The Republic of Ireland will welcome the visit of Switzerland to the Aviva Stadium on Good Friday (kick-off 7.45pm) for the first of two friendly games ahead of Euro 2016, the second taking place against Slovakia on Tuesday, 29^th March.

The game will take a backseat for a more poignant occasion prior to kick-off when there will be a special 1916 Commeraration Ceremony to mark the start of a weekend of centenary celebrations.

Ireland boss Martin O'Neill looks at theses games as being of paramount importance in preparation for the tournament as the opening game against Sweden at the Stade de France on 13^th June looms ever closer.

O'Neill views the friendlies as an opportunity to give starts to some of the fringe players who have impressed such as Wolves defender Matt Doherty, Aberdeen winger Jonny Hayes, Manchester City's Jack Byrne and Brentford's Alan Judge as he looks to narrow his squad down from the 33 to the final squad who will embark on their adventure in France this summer.

O'Neill, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, stated: "It's two fold obviously. It's a friendly game but we want to keep our good form going and be competitive. It's also experimentation but I want to see a couple of lads play. But it's all about balance."

He further iterated: "I don't want to be throwing in four or five young players in with no leadership around them. Everything is focused on the Euros. Really after these two games, it's about organising a group of players and hoping they get through unscathed in the next two months."

The Republic go into this encounter buoyed from the confidence gained in qualifying from arguably the toughest qualification group with Germany, Poland and Scotland and the subsequent victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the two-legged play-off in November.

SWITZERLAND

Switzerland come to the Aviva Stadium with a further game on home soil to come against Bosnia and Herzegovina next Tuesday.

Swiss coach, Vladimir Petkovic, is expected to use the game in Dublin as an opportunity to give debuts to a number of developing young talent such as Borussia Moenchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi, Grasshoppers Zurich midfielder Shani Tarashaj and Young Boys goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo.

The Swiss have a good pedigree in recent major tournaments and they possess some of the most exciting attacking players in Europe, such as Stoke CIty playmaker Xherdan Shaquiri, much coveted Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka and Eintracht Frankfurt's deadly young striker Haris Seferovic.

Add into the mix experienced players such as Juventus' versatile full-back Stephan Lichsteiner, much-travelled Watford midfielder Valon Behrami, and Grasshoppers Zurich's veteran centre-back Phillipe Senderos, and there will be much food for thought fot the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

The Swiss qualified took the second automatic qualification spot in their qualifying group which included England and Slovenia with relative ease and will be feeling optimistic that they could cause an upset this summer.

Referee:

MATCH FACTS

Clashes between the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland have typically been tight affairs with the last win for the Republic being a 2-1 victory in a friendly international in 1992.

Switzerland have enjoyed the bragging rights over the years with a total of seven wins and three draws in the fifteen previous encounters with Ireland being victorious five times.

Ireland have been the more prolific of the two managing to bag 17 goals in 15 games while the Swiss have only found the net on ten occasions.

The Republic of Ireland's biggest victory came in a 4-0 win in a friendly international in 1938 with Switerland highest margin being a 2-0 win in 2003 in a qualifying match for the 2004 European Championships in Portugal.

The last time the two sides met was in a 0-0 draw in 2005 in a World Cup qualifying match in Dublin.

BETTING

Republic of Ireland 9/5; Draw 21/10; Switzerland 17/10.

PREDICTION

Republic of Ireland 1-1 Switzerland.

Republic of Ireland

Injured: Jon Walters, Robbie Keane, Anthony Pilkington, Jeff Hendrick, Harry Arter.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Switzerland

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Suspended: None.