UEFA confirmed this week that the British and Irish bid to host the European Championships tounament in 2028 has been successful. Croke Park is not needed and neither is Windsor Park in Belfast, and so the Aviva and the yet to be built new Casement Park will be the Irish venues. Now the big question is which of the five host countries, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will get automatic qualification. It looks like two countries will be allowed to qualify automatically and it’s 99 per cent certain that one them would be England as they also do well in World Cup and European Championship qualifiers, but who will join England as automatic hosts in the 2028 finals? There has been speculation that all five would participate in regular qualifying games with the two highest ranked non-qualifiers getting through.
CELTIC DUO RECALLED
The FAI’s decision last month to allow Stephen Kenny see out his contract was a humane one. The manager has taken enough criticism and it would have been very difficult to find a new manager in the short time between the defeat to Holland on Sept. 10 and the next international window which starts this weekend with a home against Greece on Friday and away to Gibraltar on Oct. 16.
With John Egan out injured, Kenny has recalled Celtic defender Liam Scales and Celtic winger Mikey Johnston is back after injury. Also back is Evan Ferguson, who missed the games against France and The Netherlands last month. Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher misses out through injury with the uncapped Max O’Leary coming into the squad to join his Bristol City team-mate Mark Sykes who has earned a recall to the squad. Cardiff City winger Callum O’Dowda is also injured and James McClean has not been called up, as he confirmed last week that he will be retiring after the friendly against New Zealand on Nov. 21. Maybe Jeff Hendrick should also think about his international future as he is also excluded. However, prolific Blackburn goalscorer Sammy Szmodich has gotten a very late call from the squad
Former Manchester United and Irish international John O’Shea, who is one of Kenny’s coaches, says that on Friday night they want to make up for the disappointing 2-1 defeat to Greece in Athens back in June. O’Shea said: ‘‘That one sticks out. We didn’t perform anywhere near where we know we can. We were just disappointed with how we went about it. We felt we were in shape for the game. It’s something we want to put right and I’m fairly sure we will put it right on Friday.’’ Ireland’s disastrous start to the qualifying campaign has cast doubts over Kenny’s future in the job but O’Shea insists the pressure is no more than usual ahead of the clash on Friday 13. O’Shea added: ‘‘I wouldn’t say it’s a different pressure than playing France or Holland. It’s going to be a tough game but one we feel we can win, like against anyone at home really. If you want to be qualifying for tournaments, you have to start winning some games.’’
We have played Greece four times under four different managers and have yet to beat them. Mick McCarthy was the manager back in April 2000 when Greece visited Lansdowne Road and they won 1-0 thanks a goal by Lakis. Our first trip to Athens was in November 20, 2002 when Don Givens was the caretaker manager following McCarthy’s resignation. Don gave a first cap to Bohemians striker Glen Crowe, but the game ended scoreless. When Greece last visited Dublin in November 2012 Giovanni Trapattoni was in charge, but the Greeks won again, this time with a goal from Jose Holebas. And no luck for Stephen Kenny either as Greece maintained their unbeaten run, beating us 2-1 with goals from Bakasetas from the penalty spot and Masouras in the Opap Arena, back in June.
O’NEILL IS PLANNING
FOR ’26, ’28 CAMPAIGNS
Northern Ireland, who like the Republic have only 3 points, should add a few more on Saturday when San Marino visit Windsor Park. The North’s only win came when they beat San Marino 2-0 away back in March. Then on Tuesday Michael O’Neill’s team might pick up more points when Slovenia visit Windsor Park. Callum Marshall and Jamal Lewis return to the 25-strong panel, which shows four changes from last month's games. West Ham striker Marshall made his senior debut against Denmark in June. He was with the under-21s in September, however his fine goalscoring form with West Ham’s under 21s he has scored 12 goals in nine outings to date, has led to his return to senior duty. Full-back Lewis, who is currently on loan with Watford from Newcastle United, was unavailable for selection for the away double header last month due to injury. Announcing his squad, O’Neill pointed out that 14 of his 25-strong squad for the next two games have fewer than 10 caps each, adding: “It is not that we are leaving out experienced players. We would hope that those younger]players would evolve and we will have a team that is competitive for the 2026 World Cup campaign and carry that forward into 2028, of course.”
