England set for Aviva date
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Newspaper reports today have said that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) are in talks with the English FA about arranging a friendly at the Aviva Stadium next summer.
Some of this morning’s tabloids reported that talks are at such an advanced stage that the tie could be confirmed before Christmas.
It will be the first meeting between the sides since 1995’s infamous riot in Lansdowne Road, when English fans went on the rampage after Ireland took the lead and the game was abandoned inside half an hour.
Of course, the countries have met at underage level on Irish shores since then but the friendly would certainly be a sell-out and be a big boost to the coffers at Abbottstown.
If the money-spinning game goes ahead, it would likely be in early June because England’s planned game against Thailand has now been scrapped after last week’s World Cup bidding failure.
The plan was for the ‘Three Lions’ to travel to Thailand on the promise that the FIFA ExCo member Worawi Makudi would vote for England to host the 2018 competition.
That did not materialize and after that game was cancelled, it meant England were available and the FAI engaged in talks about welcoming Fabio Capello's side to D4.
Some of this morning’s tabloids reported that talks are at such an advanced stage that the tie could be confirmed before Christmas.
It will be the first meeting between the sides since 1995’s infamous riot in Lansdowne Road, when English fans went on the rampage after Ireland took the lead and the game was abandoned inside half an hour.
Of course, the countries have met at underage level on Irish shores since then but the friendly would certainly be a sell-out and be a big boost to the coffers at Abbottstown.
If the money-spinning game goes ahead, it would likely be in early June because England’s planned game against Thailand has now been scrapped after last week’s World Cup bidding failure.
The plan was for the ‘Three Lions’ to travel to Thailand on the promise that the FIFA ExCo member Worawi Makudi would vote for England to host the 2018 competition.
That did not materialize and after that game was cancelled, it meant England were available and the FAI engaged in talks about welcoming Fabio Capello's side to D4.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile