The Republic of Ireland get their Nations League campaign underway on Thursday night as Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side travel to Pristina to take on Kosovo.
Ireland will be looking to get off to a strong start in their opening game, but they face a tricky test against a Kosovo side playing in front of their home crowd at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium.Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.
When is Ireland v Kosovo?
Ireland face Kosovo on Thursday, September 24, with kick-off at 7.45pm Irish time. The game will take place at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina.
How to watch Ireland v Kosovo
The game will be shown live in Ireland on RTÉ 2, with coverage also available to stream on the RTÉ Player.
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TV coverage will begin at 7pm, with the match getting underway at 7.45pm.
Ireland v Kosovo team news
Ireland have had a couple of late changes to their squad ahead of the trip to Kosovo. Jamie McGrath of Hibernians and Queens Park Rangers’ Harvey Vale have both withdrawn from the squad after picking up injuries with their clubs over the weekend. St Mirren’s Killian Phillips has been called up as a replacement and will join up with the squad ahead of Thursday’s game.
There are also a number of familiar names in Hallgrímsson’s squad, with Brentford ‘keeper Caoimhín Kelleher, Real Betis’s Troy Parrott and Chiedozie Ogbene of Lincoln City among those expected to play a key role during the Nations League campaign. Brentford captain Nathan Collins remains unavailable due to injury, while veteran Séamus Coleman was not included in the squad.
What can we expect from the game?
Ireland will be hoping to start the Nations League with three points, but Kosovo are unlikely to make things easy.
It’s Ireland’s first competitive fixture since the defeat in Czechia. The Israel fixture Sunday looms large and Ireland have never enjoyed much success in the Nations League so the omens are not exactly brilliant ahead of the fixture.