The Republic of Ireland's attempt to banish the pain of Prague and their penalty shootout defeat against Czech Republic that cost them a place in the summer's World Cup really begins this month. Heimir Hallgrimsson's side have played four friendlies since that loss, beating Grenada and Qatar and drawing with North Macedonia and Canada, but Thursday's Nations League opener against Kosovo in Pristina will be their first competitive game since that fateful night in March. It will also feature the return of a more familiar-looking Irish squad after some experimentation in the summer, in a new-look international window, with four games in 12 days.
Hallgrimsson's side will take on Kosovo, Israel twice and Austria in that timeframe and, ahead of a busy spell, BBC Sport NI looks at how the squad and the respective opposition are shaping up. Coleman not included in Republic of Ireland squad Hallgrimsson spoke to players individually about Israel games Uefa rejected request to keep Republic of Ireland and Israel separate - FAI Hallgrimsson has named a 26-man squad to try and cope with the extra demands of this extended window. He is without captain Nathan Collins through a calf injury, which is a blow as he has been first-choice when fit to marshal the back three.
Jack Taylor and Mikey Johnston join long-term absentees Evan Ferguson and Josh Cullen, while Oisin McEntee missed out on a first call-up through injury. Hallgrimsson also confirmed that some players named in the squad are currently nursing injuries or working their way back to full fitness including Jimmy Dunne, Bosun Lawal and Owen Elding, while QPR's Harvey Vale and Hibernian's Jamie McGrath were injured in the warm-up before their clubs' respective games on Saturday and played no part. Experienced duo Seamus Coleman and Robbie Brady were not considered for selection as they are without clubs.
Sheffield United loanee Liam Kitching has been handed his first call-up while uncapped Cardiff City defender Joel Bagan and Elding of Hibs are in contention to win their first caps. Hallgrimsson is likely to use if not all, then a large portion of his squad throughout the four games given the schedule and to try to grow some depth, which is much needed in the full-back areas and in midfield. Few Irish players will be coming into the squad as confident as Troy Parrott, the hero of the previous qualifying campaign, who has taken seamlessly to life in La Liga with Real Betis.
The 24-year-old opened his account for the club by coming off the bench to stab home the winner against Real Madrid earlier this month. He followed that up with another winning goal a few days later, this time on his Champions League debut to seal a 3-2 victory for Betis away to Lille and he then provided an assist against Getafe. He has hit the ground running in Spain and will hope to continue his goalscoring exploits on the international stage, where he has firmly established himself as first-choice striker.
Hull City's John Egan and Swansea City's Adam Idah are two other players heading into the break in fine form. Egan has been a mainstay for the Tigers in their positive start to life back in the Premier League and is pushing to start with Collins out, while Idah has three goals and an assist in eight Championship games for the Swans. Republic of Ireland's performance in the Nations League will have a lasting impact on their Euro 2028 qualification campaign, so results are important.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
