HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON HAS made three changes to his starting side for tonight’s Nations League clash with Greece.
With Seamus Coleman injured, Matt Doherty and Adam Idah also drop out, with Andrew Omobamidele, Alan Browne, and Jason Knight brought into the starting team.
If it’s to remain a back three, then Omobamidele will slot in alongside Nathan Collins and Dara O’Shea, with Robbie Brady likely continuing at left wing-back. Alan Browne may start at right wing-back, having played in that position off the bench against England. Knight will beef up the midfield with Will Smallbone and Jayson Molumby, while Chiedozie Ogbene supporting Sammie Szmodics up front.
Doherty and Idah are on the bench along with Evan Ferguson, who is not yet fit to start having not made a club appearance since 31 March.
Nathan Collins captains the side.
STARTING XI | Ireland v Greece
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 10, 2024
Andrew Omobamidele comes into the side as well as Jason Knight and Alan Browne for the crucial match against Greece at the Aviva Stadium tonight 👏
Kick-off is at 7.45pm, not long to go now 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/iSXWRSmDiQ
Greece have made two changes from their opening game, with former Norwich winger Christian Tzolis coming in for Dimitris Pelkas, while midfielder Petros Mantalos drops out in favour of Manolis Siopis.
🇬🇷 OFFICIAL: Greece's starting XI vs. Ireland is out!
— Hellas Football (@HellasFooty) September 10, 2024
Two changes from the last game with Siopis & Tzolis starting
Thoughts on the lineup? 💭 #IRLGRE | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/CwmY68CFch
Ireland are seeking their first win of this Nations League campaign, having opened with a 2-0 loss to England. Greece, meanwhile, are the early group leaders, beating Finland 3-0 in their opening fixture last Saturday.
Ireland have never beaten Greece across five previous games under four different managers. Mick McCarthy, Don Givens, and Giovanni Trapattoni all failed to win friendly games against Greece, while Stephen Kenny lost home and away to Greece in Euro 2024 qualifying last year.
Kick off at the Aviva Stadium is at 7.45pm, and the game is live on RTE Two.
Omobamadile has barely kicked a ball this year, leaving Scales out seems a bit strange.
@Bert Carolan: hello…Brady….did u not see saturdays game, scales over him….Omobamdele will be fine
@Kevin Bury: So you’d put Scales at wing back? Don’t think he plays there. Full back fine. Ya Brady very poor against England but if we sticking with 3 centre defenders then the options for left wing back are few.
Hope you right about Andrew.
@Bert Carolan: You have to play Scales at centre half either in a 2 or a 3. Preferably 2 as he’s looked vulnerable and positionally suspect in a 3. Full back is out due to his poor passing ability and lack of pace. Unfortunately for him he’s probably 4th or 5th in the cue at centre half.
Greece will win easy id say hope im wrong
@Shawn: Greece are an aging team, very limited. If they win easy, then we really ought to pack in the auld Soccer altogether.
@Shawn: Well they did last time beat us easy but im going for reverse psychology as i said hope im wrong
@Shawn: Ray just being a silly Billy as usual… nonsense is his first language
@robert kelly: looks like im 100 percent right
Liam Scales playing every weekend while Andrew Omobamidele has done nothing with Forest. Hope Tony O D asks the hard questions
@Gary O Sullivan: Scales is central or left full , Omobamidele is central or right full.
Still, the O Shea scent is heavy in that team!! HH should be planning for the future…….and his own too!!
Brady?
@Sean: O Shea owes him money from their Utd days so he s repaying him in caps he doesn’t deserve. Well he s not playing cause he s the worlds best LWB…
Hope the Greek anthem is respected tonight. Some babies on here might lose their mind…
Probably the worst selection and tactics we could have hoped for. i guess we are playing some variation of 5-4-1 but the balance in midfield looks unusual.
I predict we’ll still see wing backs and CBs struggling to know which players to pick up or what space to cover, Sammie will be lost up front too
Good that Idah and Doherty are out.
Looks like he might be going for a 3-5-2, which is probably best suited to the team’s strengths at the moment – a lack of quality in midfield, so crowd the space to deny the opposition room
Saw Greece play us the last time won with ease idah needs move tonight he just stand’s when he suppose to jump.
@ED: he s on the bench Ed , if he jumps he might bang his noggin off the dugout .
@Gerard Lynch: Sorry my bad
@ED: Tbf you wouldn’t notice whether he s on the pitch or not .
I’m not sure why we continue to play with 5 in the back when we don’t have players with the pace for the wingback position. Brady and Brown are being played out of position and are not suited for wingback. It would be better to play with 4 in the back and deploy Scales at left back and O’Shea at right back. This selection won’t offer much going forward but at least it will be solid in the back.