International friendly team news and prediction: England vs Ireland

 

New Zealand were originally meant to face England in a friendly but decided against the long-haul flight amid concerns of COVID-19. The Three Lions will now face Ireland instead.

 

Ahead of Thursday's meeting between the two nations, we have all your need-to-know matchday information, including where you can watch the game and up-to-date team news for both sides.

 

When is kick off?
Thursday 12th November, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Wembley Stadium, London
Where can I watch it?
ITV

 

Head-to-Head Record

 

Thursday’s meeting between England and Ireland will be the 17th in their history and first in five years. Surprisingly, nine of the previous 16 encounters have ended as a draw, including each of the last six over a 25-year period. Neither team scored when they last faced back in 2015, with England’s starting XI including the likes of Chris Smalling, Jack Wilshere, Ryan Bertrand and Adam Lallana. Despite being only five years ago, there are only two players from that squad in the current one in Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling.

 

 

Team News

 

England have sensationally called up 17-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham as a replacement for injured Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse, while Gareth Southgate has opted against a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is out for a month with a calf injury. England have also been rocked by fears Joe Gomez could miss the remainder of the season after a knee injury in training on Wednesday. Marcus Rashford linked up with the England boys later than everyone else, owing to a shoulder problem, and won't feature here either. With two UEFA Nations League matches to come, Southgate will shuffle his pack bringing in the likes of Jack Grealish, Nick Pope, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Conor Coady. Suspended for their next match, Reece James and Harry Maguire should start against Ireland.

 

Ireland have lost left-back Enda Stevens to injury and opted against calling up a like-for-like replacement, instead turning to right-back Cyrus Christie. Stephen Kenny will instead improvise to find a solution at left-back at Wembley, while also making changes to keep his squad fresh for their own UEFA Nations League matches. Callum Robinson has been forced to pull out of the squad after testing positive for COVID-19, while Aaron Connolly has returned to Brighton with an injury. Both are key forwards for Ireland and will be missed, particularly in their Nations League games.

 

Probable XI 


International friendly team news and prediction: England vs Ireland

 

England (343): Pope; Keane, Coady, Maguire; James, Henderson, Winks, Saka; Sancho, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish

 

Ireland (433): Randolph; Doherty, O’Shea, Long, Brady; Molumby, Hourihane, Hendrick; Curtis, Idah, McClean

 

Key Battle: Reece James vs Matt Doherty

 

Gareth Southgate’s decision to call up Reece James, given he is suspended for both UEFA Nations League matches, raised eyebrows but only reinforces suggestions the Chelsea starlet will be England’s first-choice right-back for as long as he is in charge of the Three Lions. With suspension ahead, James is all but guaranteed to start against Ireland on Thursday. The 20-year-old has made an encouraging start to the season with Chelsea, even leapfrogging Cesar Azpilicueta in the pecking order, and has one goal and one assist to his name in seven Premier League appearances.

 

His opposite number on Thursday will likely be London rival Matt Doherty. We are yet to see Doherty flourish in an attacking sense at Tottenham as we did at Wolves and goal-shy Ireland will hope that changes at Wembley. Doherty tends to rotate in and out of the Ireland team with captain Seamus Coleman, but the Tottenham defender is certainly more of a threat in the attacking third. Stephen Kenny’s side have failed to score in each of their last four matches and with key attackers like Aaron Connolly and Callum Robinson missing it will be up to players like Doherty to really step up if they are to stand a chance of causing England problems.

 

Prediction: England 2-0 Ireland

International friendly team news and prediction: England vs Ireland