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Shane Long makes the cut in our best XI. Morgan Treacy/INPHO
Opinion

Do you agree with our combined Ireland-Scotland XI?

We’ve decided to assess the merits of the two respective sides and come up with their joint-best team.

THERE HAS BEEN much debate about the merits of the two respective teams ahead of today’s big Euro 2016 qualifier.

Aiden McGeady ratcheted up the tension a notch during the week by suggesting Ireland have better players than their opponents, though Gordon Strachan’s side claimed the bragging rights when the two teams met at Celtic Park last November.

Consequently, we’ve decided to assess the strengths of the two respective sides and come up with a best XI…

Goalkeeper

Goalkeeper is tricky. You could make a case for Shay Given, as he is the only one in the two squads to have appeared in the Premier League this season. Similarly, Keiren Westwood is coming off the back of an excellent season with Sheffield Wednesday. However, when you consider all factors, including age, experience, reliability and sheer talent, Cardiff’s David Marshall probably just about edges it.

Defence

On the basis of club form, Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea and Marc Wilson all seem like straightforward picks. Unlike the likes of Russell Martin and Gordon Greer, they are all playing on a relatively regular basis in the Premier League. As good as Robbie Brady is going forward, his Hull teammate Andy Robertson is a better defender, and probably deserves the left-back slot on that basis.

Midfield

Glenn Whelan, Charlie Mulgrew and even Harry Arter could all stake a claim for a midfield place, but it’s ultimately hard to look past a central pairing that includes James McCarthy, whose finesse would be nicely complemented by the tireless work ethic of Scott Brown. On the wings, tricky wingers Ikechi Anya and Aiden McGeady are preferred, despite strong competition from Jon Walters and Shaun Maloney.

Attack

Given his form with Everton over the past two years, Steven Naismith patently deserves a place in attack. The second striker is much harder to determine, but despite the obvious merits of Robbie Keane and Steven Fletcher, Shane Long pips them to a place in the starting side.

Ireland-Scotland combined XI

Marshall

Coleman O’Shea Wilson Robertson

Anya McCarthy Brown McGeady

Naismith Long

Subs: Westwood, Hutton, Martin, Mulgrew, McArthur, Brady, Walters, Adam, Hoolahan, Maloney, Fletcher, Keane.

Opinion: RTÉ should apologise for their treatment of John Giles>

The view from Scotland: How Saturday’s big game will pan out>

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