The Republic of Ireland women’s national team have been drawn to face Georgia in the Women’s Euro 2025 play-off semi-finals. Eileen Gleeson’s players will travel to Georgia for the first leg on Oct. 25, before welcoming their opponents to Ireland for the return leg the following Tuesday. At this stage we are not sure if the game will be played in Tallaght Stadium or the Aviva or maybe even Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork, which was the site of last week’s 3-1 win over France that ensured that the Irish team were seeded in the play-off.
The Georgians are ranked 119th in the world, while Ireland are currently 25th. The countries met in the 2023 World Cup qualification, with Ireland winning 11-0 in Tallaght and then 9-0 in Gori. If Ireland get past Georgia, they will then play either Slovakia or Wales in the two-legged final, which would be played on Nov. 29 and Dec. 3 with Ireland again at home for the second leg. Slovakia are ranked 50th in the world with the Welsh in 31st place. Last February Wales beat Ireland 2-0 in a friendly at Tallaght Stadium.
Meanwhile Northern Ireland’s Australian-born manager Tanya Oxtoby says she is happy with their draw, which will see them play Croatia in their Euro 2025 play-off. And if they win the first play-off then the North will face either Albania or Norway in the final play-off for Switzerland next year.
UNDER-19S
EDGED OUT
The Irish Women’s under 19 team ended their 2024 UEFA European Championships campaign with a 2-0 loss to Netherlands in Lithuania on Sunday. Having drawn 0-0 with holders Spain earlier in the week and going down 2-1 to Germany, Dave Connell’s team knew that they belonged at this level but needed a big performance and win over the Dutch to progress. But goals from Woons and Van Koppen sent the Dutch through to the semi-finals ahead of Ireland.
ENGLAND SEEK
NEW MANAGER
The English FA have advertised on their own website for a replacement for Gareth Southgate, who stepped down as national team manager last week after eight years and 102 games in charge. The closing date for applications is Aug, 2. The job advert for the England job states: “We are currently overseeing a highly targeted process to appoint the next Head Coach of the England Men’s Senior Team. Our succession planning process has already identified a number of candidates; in addition to this we are committed to open recruitment processes in the football industry and are interested in hearing from individuals who meet the following criteria. The successful candidate needs to hold a UEFA Pro License and have significant experience of English football and a proven track record in the EPL or in international competitions.’’
There had been speculation that England under 21 manager Lee Carsley would be appointed caretaker manager for England’s game against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Sept. 7, but I think English FA won’t take as long as the FAI did to find a replacement for Stephen Kenny and they are likely to appoint a new permanent manager in August.
REDS PULL OUT
OF FRENCH DEAL
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have pulled out of talks to buy struggling French club Bordeaux. Bordeaux said FSG cited future maintenance costs of the stadium, plus the general uncertainty over the financial stability of French football. FSG confirmed last week they were in the "early stages of dialogue and engagement" over a deal for the six-time French champions.
BRADY SCORES
FROM 40 YARDS
Irish international Robbie Brady scored a wonder goal from 40 years as Preston North End beat Liverpool 1-0 behind closed doors at the AXA Training Centre in Liverpool on Saturday. It was new Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s first game in chare and he used 25 players during the game. Liverpool begin their pre-season tour of the United States with a friendly against Real Betis in Pittsburgh on July 26. They will play Arsenal in Philadelphia on July 31 and three days later the Reds meet Manchester United at the Williams-Brice Stadium, before returning home to welcome Sevilla to Anfield on Aug. 11.
ARMSTRONG
FOR BRISTOL
Irish international Sinclair Armstrong completed has completed a move from QPR to Bristol City, signing a four-year contract in a deal worth around €3 million. His former club Shamrock Rovers will receive around €700,000 as part of the transfer, having negotiated a 25pc sell-on clause when the striker left the Hoops for QPR in 2020. And his schoolboy club Cherry Orchard may also benefit. Armstrong has one senior cap and the 21 year-old striker will link up with fellow Irish internationals Jason Knight and Mark Sykes at Bristol.
COLEMAN RETURNS
FOR SLIGO FRIENDLY
Donegal-born Seamus Coleman returned to the Showgrounds for a friendly on Friday as his current club Everton drew 3-3 with his first club Sligo Rovers in a pre-season friendly. It was the first time that Everton wore their new strip, which is manufactured by Castore and after 30 minutes one of the Everton players saw the club crest blow off his jersey. It was a bad start to the club’s deal with their new kit supplier and earlier in the week the Toffees saw The Friedkin Group pull out of a potential takeover of the club.
SCHMEICHEL
JOINS CELTIC
Celtic have signed Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel on a one-year deal after he captained his country to the last 16 of Euro 2024. Schmeichel, who is 37, was a free agent after leaving Belgian club Anderlecht at the end of last season and he replaces former Manchester City club-mate Joe Hart, who has retired. The Dane, whose father Peter played for Manchester United, has won 105 caps for his country.
EURO PAYDAYS
A good week generally for League of Ireland clubs in Europe with Shamrock Rovers advancing to the second round of the Champions League qualifiers after beating Vikingur of Iceland 2-1 in Tallaght Stadium. The visitors missed a penalty with the last kick of the game to bring the tie to extra time.
The Hoops were paired with Sparta Prague in the second round and as the Echo went to press on Tuesday night they were playing the first leg in Tallaght Stadium. The Hoops are now guaranteed €1.75 million, which will rise to a minimum of €3.17 million if they win one more tie.
Shelbourne are through to the second round of the Conference League; the Reds beat St Joseph’s from Gibraltar 2-1 in the first leg at Tolka Park and drew 1-1 in the second leg in Gibraltar last week. It means a second-round tie against FC Zurich for Shels with the first leg away tomorrow.
But Derry City are out, after losing 3-2 on aggregate to Bruno’s Magpies from Gibraltar. Meanwhile St Patrick’s Athletic, who got a bye in the first round of the Conference League, will play FC Vaduz from Liechtenstein, in the first leg of the second round tie at Inchicore to-morrow night.
SAINTS KNOCKED
OUT OF FAI CUP
FAI Cup holders St Patrick’s Athletic are out of this year’s competition. The Saints, who are having a miserable season, were beaten 3-0 by Derry City at The Brandywell on Sunday evening. Meanwhile Bohemians, beaten finalists last year, saved their season with a rare win over arch rivals Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park on Friday night.
