UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier Preview: Republic of Ireland -v- Gibraltar

REP. OF IRELAND

Ireland face off against Gibraltar on Monday night at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm) as they hope to make it three wins from four so far in this campaign.

McCarthy will be looking for an improvement in the final third compared to that of Friday’s draw, where the consensus was that the Danes should have won.

Speaking at a press conference earlier today, McCarthy strongly implied that there would be little change to the starting XI, as he looks for continuity and stability.

“The players should all be sticking their hands up and making a claim in training which they have been doing in the last three weeks. I don’t get the sense that there should be wholesale changes.

“The lads who have won two games and drawn one and played ever so well, I’m not in the habit of saying, ‘Alright, scattergun approach and we’ll give somebody a game.

“We’ve got to beat these. I want what I think is the best team on the pitch. I know I have got adequate replacements, good replacements, for the ones who have been playing, but they have been excellent.” 

"I'm not saying I won't make changes, but I think when you get in and you play well and you win, it's your job to get out of it. It's their job to stay in it.”

He also added that Alan Judge, who broke his wrist at the end of Friday’s draw, would be having an operation tomorrow.

GIBRALTAR

The away side are coming into tomorrow night’s game off the back of a 3-0 loss to Georgia in Tblisi last Friday.

Had it not been for a special save from Darren Randolph at home, Gibraltar would likely have come away with a famous 1-1 draw in the last encounter between the sides.

With this in mind the visiting side will certainly be coming to Dublin believing that they can come away with a point.

Realistically however, anything less than a 3-0 loss would be a success and a stark improvement from results of recent seasons.

Manager Julio Ribas also referenced the teams development and improvement in today’s press conference at the Aviva.



"Ireland also played well (speaking about the 1-1 draw) because it wasn't easy to adapt to the particular conditions on that day but they are a team of a high level.

“For us the most important thing is that we continue our growth, to be competitive as a team and to continue our development as a national team to get to a stage where we can look to perform and hurt the teams we are up against."

Referee: Radu Petrescu

 

MATCH STATS

Ireland have a combined score of 12-0 from the three meetings between the sides.

Gibraltar have four wins in their short history, two of which came in the recent Nations League, with victories over Armenia and Liechtenstein.

Three of Gibraltars all-time top scorers are in their squad, Liam Walker, Lee Casciaro, and Joseph Chipolina, all of whom have two goals.

 

BETTING

Rep. of Ireland 1/40; Draw 22/1; Gibraltar 100/1.

PREDICTION

Rep. of Ireland 4–0 Gibraltar.

 

Rep. of Ireland

Injured: Kevin Long, Alan Judge, Shane Long.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Gibraltar

Injured: NA.

Doubtful: NA.

Suspended: None.

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