International Friendly Preview: Republic of Ireland -v- The Netherlands

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Ireland will play host to the Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening, a game which will be their final match at the Lansdowne Road venue before they jet off for the European Championships in June.

Although, the Netherlands failed to qualify for this summer’s championships, their first absence from a major tournament since 2002, they are sure to pose to stern test of the Irish team’s credentials with players like Wesley Sneijder, Memphis Depay and Kevin Strootman part of a menacing Dutch squad.

Martin O’Neill’s side will look to use the game in preparation for the group games against Sweden, Belgium and Italy next month. Ireland are currently unbeaten since last October’s defeat in Warsaw and should the Boys in Green avoid a loss tomorrow night, their undefeated record will thus stretch to an impressive five matches ahead of the visit of Belarus to Turner’s Cross, Cork on Tuesday night.

Following tomorrow’s match with the Dutch, Ireland manager Martin O’Neill is expected to trim his squad from the provisional 35, to the compulsory 23, placing huge emphasis on tomorrow’s encounter for peripheral players such as AFC Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter and Ipswich Town forward Daryl Murphy.

Midfielder James McCarthy and Aston Villa centre-back Ciaran Clark are both viewed as being doubtful for the game at the Aviva, however, neither of them according to O’Neill, have injuries that could affect their participation in Ireland’s opening Group E game against Sweden on June, 13

Martin O’Neill said: “No (I’m) not (worried) at all, he (McCarthy) may play on Tuesday, he has played a lot of games for Everton and it is a niggling injury so it may take a few days to recover, but he will be alright (for the Euros).”

O’Neill though, did reveal that he intends to give as many players as he can a chance to present a claim for a place in the squad, explaining that he “will play a mixture of players over the two game.”

Vice-skipper John O’Shea is projected to be a definite starter for O’Neill tomorrow night as the 35-year-old bids to gain much needed match practice having spent the majority of the latter end of his club season with Sunderland as a substitute.

“John will definitively start the game. He hasn’t played a lot towards the end of the season, so he will get the opportunity to play.”

It remains to be seen if Oxford United winger Callum O’Dowda will make his international debut for Ireland tomorrow night, or whether or not Dundalk FC ‘keeper will be added to the squad having trained on a number of occasions with the squad. You can find out on Extratime.ie tomorrow night where Billy Smith will be providing you with team news as he gets it during tomorrow night’s live updates here.

NETHERLANDS

Danny Blind will lead his Orange men to the Dublin tomorrow evening as he attempts to rebuild the Dutch national team’s shattered reputation as a consequence of missing out on a place in France for the 2016 European Championships having finished in fourth place in their qualification group.

Having finished behind Group A winners Czech Republic, Iceland and Turkey and failing to qualify for the Euros for the first time since 1984, Blind replaced Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink who had left the post before qualifying had ended.

Blind has named a relatively inexperienced with seven players in line to make their international debuts during tomorrow evening’s encounter in Dublin 4. Among them are Manchester United’s Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Feyenoord midfielder Tonny Vilhena and Steven Berghuis of Watford.

Ireland must be wary of the Dutch’s youthful line-up though, as a similarly unfamiliar Netherlands team defied the odds and defeated England at Wembley Stadium during the March internationals. That victory symbolised a somewhat mini-revival for Oranje as they bid to assemble a squad capable of securing a place at the World Cup in Russia, 2018.

Daley Blind (Manchester United), Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United) and Bas Dost (Wolfsburg) are the most experienced and well-known internationals chosen by Danny Blind in his squad to face the Republic of Ireland tomorrow evening.

Kevin Strootman will certainly start the game having been named captain by Blind ahead of the game.

MATCH STATS

The last meeting between the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands came in September 2001 at the old Lansdowne Road Stadium. Jason McAteer’s sublime strike saw Ireland win 1-0, meaning Louis Van Gaal’s Dutch team failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

Patrick Kluivert’s brace at Anfield in 1996 meant that Holland defeated Ireland to go through to the 1996 European Championships following their play-off victory. That was Jack Charlton’s final match in charge of Ireland.

Friday’s encounter will be the 22^nd meeting of the sides, with the Dutch leading the current head-to-head, 11-7, with three draws having been recorded.

BETTING

Republic of Ireland 23/10; Draw 11/5; Netherlands 13/10.

PREDICTION

Republic of Ireland 1-2 Netherlands

Republic of Ireland

Injured: None

Doubtful: Ciaran Clark, James McCarthy

Suspended: None

Netherlands:

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None