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Here's The Intriguing Ireland Team We Want To See Against Greece

Here's The Intriguing Ireland Team We Want To See Against Greece
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
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Ireland will face into a vital Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday evening, with Stephen Kenny's side set to face Greece away from home.

After the good performance against France in the campaign opener, it will be hoped that they can follow it up with another good showing in Athens. At least a point will be required if Ireland are to have any chance of finishing in the top two of the group, with games against Gibraltar and the Netherlands still to come.

Here is the team we would select to get the job done.

The Ireland team we want to see against Greece

GK: Gavin Bazunu

Despite being dropped by Southampton towards the end of the season, it seems unlikely that Gavin Bazunu will suffer a similar fate with Ireland.

Both Caoimhín Kelleher and Mark Travers spent most of the campaign sitting on the bench, while Bazunu has never disappointed at international level. He will be the no. 1 for the foreseeable future.

CB: Nathan Collins

Nathan Collins is another player who largely found himself out of the team at club level in recent months, although he remains an automatic starter for Ireland.

He has proven to be a key player under Stephen Kenny in recent times and will no doubt play a big role if Ireland are to get a result in Athens.

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CB: John Egan

Coming off the back of a brilliant season with Sheffield United, John Egan will be hoping to carry that success over to international level. He captained the club for large periods as they secured promotion to the Premier League and reached an FA Cup semi-final.

Egan is set to wear that captain's armband in Seamus Coleman's absence.

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CB: Dara O'Shea

Dara O'Shea has not played since the middle of March, with an injury bringing his season at West Brom to a premature end. However, he has been training with Ireland in Turkey and recently played in an in-house 70 minute match with other members of the squad.

As a result, you would imagine he will be available for the Greece game. If that is the case, he will start alongside Collins and Egan, with that trio beginning to form an excellent partnership at the back.

RWB: Matt Doherty

Had Seamus Coleman been fit, it would have been interesting to see what Stephen Kenny did in this position. After all, Doherty received a grand total of 16 minutes of playing time after his move to Atletico Madrid back in January.

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However, he is a shoe-in to start. It will be interesting to see if his lack of minutes has an impact on his performance in the Athens heat.

LWB: Callum O'Dowda

Ryan Manning would have come under strong consideration here had he not been forced to pull out of the squad due to personal reasons, with Callum O'Dowda and James McClean the other options at left wingback.

O'Dowda gets the nod here due to his calmness on the ball and ability from set-pieces. In saying that, it would not be a surprise to see McClean play a big role off the bench.

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CM: Josh Cullen

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Perhaps the first name on the Ireland team sheet, Josh Cullen is coming into this camp on the back of a tremendous season at Burnley. He appeared in all but one of their Championship fixtures as they strolled to the title under Vincent Kompany.

He will be hoping to carry that form into this fixture, where he will be tasked with getting Ireland moving through the lines as they play out from the back.

CM: Jayson Molumby

Another automatic selection at this point, Jayson Molumby has very much gotten his career back on track since moving to West Brom. He was named as the Supporters' Player of the Year at the Hawthorns, pointing to the impact he has had since joining the club.

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His energy will be key in this fixture, although it will also be important to adopt a measured approach in what is set to be stifling weather conditions.

CM: Jason Knight

The starter in this position could well come down to the system used by Stephen Kenny.

If it is a straightforward three in midfield, Knight is likely to get the nod. However, the likes of Adam Idah, Troy Parrott, and Mikey Johnston will come under considering if he opts to go for three up front.

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It seems likely that Ireland will play three in midfield in order to combat Greece's 4-3-3 formation, with the possibility of getting outnumbered in midfield if it is left to Cullen and Molumby to cover all of the ground in the middle third.

In any case, Knight is more than capable of getting forward when required. Kenny could also ask him to play as more of a wide player when Ireland are in possession, as he did at times against France.

ST: Evan Ferguson

There is little doubt that Evan Ferguson will be in the starting XI on Friday evening. He is by far Ireland's biggest goal threat at the moment despite still being only 18-years old.

The only question is who will start up front alongside him.

 

ST: Michael Obafemi

Adam Idah is a favourite of Stephen Kenny, although Michael Obafemi gets the nod in our team. He has not played as much as he would have hoped since his move to Burnley in January, although he has had no fitness issues and was consistently used as a substitute.

His ability to run in behind as Ferguson drops deep is something that should work well in a partnership, with Obafemi's finishing ability around the penalty area also more clinical that the other options in the squad.

 

The Team In Full

ireland team greece

This is an intriguing team, one that should have a good mix of energy, defensive stability, and attacking output. Encouragingly, it also includes seven players aged 24-years old or younger.

As for players who Kenny could opt to select that have not been included above, Adam Idah, Jamie McGrath, James McClean, and Mikey Johnston are all likely to come under consideration.

SEE ALSO: Premier League Club Lining Up Shock Move For Nathan Collins

nathan collins shock premier league move

 

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