LIVE: Ireland v Belgium, international friendly
4 hours ago 4:04PM
Hello and welcome to today’s liveblog.
The John O’Shea interim era gets underway and it’s a big test for the Irish team.
They face a Belgium team ranked fourth in the world, and who are in the midst of a six-match winning run.
They haven’t lost a match since being beaten by eventual semi-finalists Morrocco in November 2022 during the World Cup.
However, the visitors have a few big players missing so Ireland will view this as a potential opportunity to get a statement win against a top international side.
New eras invariably at least start with a sense of positivity so the Aviva crowd will be expecting a good game today.
4 hours ago 4:09PM
Confirmation of the Irish team…
STARTING XI | Ireland v Belgium
Caoimhin Kelleher and Evan Ferguson start as Seamus Coleman returns to captain the side at the @AVIVAStadium today, kick-off at 5pm ????
Sammie Szmodics set to make his Ireland debut ????
Exciting line-up ???? pic.twitter.com/aXgiDiKtx8
4 hours ago 4:10PM
And here’s how Belgium line up…
The 11 Devils lining up against the Irish. ???? #SelectedByPwC #IRLBEL #WirSchaffenDas pic.twitter.com/swouF1fcAM
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) March 23, 20244 hours ago 4:12PM
Republic of Ireland’s Interim Head Coach John O'Shea Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
4 hours ago 4:27PM
There’s some debate in the press room about how will Ireland line up.
Much of it will depend on where Seamus Coleman plays.
If he is part of a back three, then Nathan Collins could be pushed into midfield, with Chiedozie Ogbene at right wing-back, where he often plays at club level.
Alternatively, you could have Coleman at wing-back, with Collins in defence and Ogbene in more of an attacking role.
4 hours ago 4:29PM
Who do you think will win today?
4 hours ago 4:34PM
Republic of Ireland’s Assistant Manager Paddy McCarthy with Technical Advisor Brian Kerr. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
3 hours ago 4:49PM
Ireland fans Adam and Emily McCluskey with Linda Brennan from Dublin ahead of the game. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
3 hours ago 5:01PM
We’re underway…
3 hours ago 5:05PM
3 mins: Ireland have started with Collins at centre back and Coleman as right wing-back.
Early on, there’s a great chance.
Szmodics slips Ogbene through on goal, but the Luton man can only find the side-netting with his finish.
3 hours ago 5:08PM
6 mins: Ireland have been a bit sloppy early on.
Kelleher and Smallbone have both played stray passes that put the team under pressure.
3 hours ago 5:13PM
9 mins: Out of possession, Ireland are essentially playing a 5-4-1 with Ogbene and Szmodics drifting to the wings.
As I type, Trossard beats Ogbene on the left but his cross is headed well wide by Tielemans.
3 hours ago 5:17PM
15 mins: There hasn’t been much goalmouth action in recent minutes.
Belgium have dominated possession without looking too threatening.
3 hours ago 5:20PM
18 mins: A ball is played down the channels for Openda but Collins makes the challenge and it goes out for a corner.
Belgium have been camped in the Irish half for a good portion of this game so far.
3 hours ago 5:25PM
Here’s a look at the one attacking moment so far that got the crowd excited, even if it was ultimately offside.
Lovely move from Ireland!
Brilliant from Ferguson and Szmodics to tee up Ogbene!
Assistant had his flag up so it wouldn't have counted but encouraging start! pic.twitter.com/8SIK40XnGS
3 hours ago 5:27PM
PENALTY TO IRELAND!
3 hours ago 5:29PM
PENALTY MISSED!
3 hours ago 5:31PM
28 mins: Ireland may come to rue this moment.
Collins wins a header from a set piece. It falls to O’Shea whose volley deflects off the hand of Vermeeren.
Ferguson steps up but his penalty is down the middle and Sels manages to palm it away.
3 hours ago 5:34PM
Not long after the Ferguson penalty miss, Ogbene dragged a shot from a difficult angle wide.
Ireland can at least take encouragement from the fact they are causing Belgium some problems.
2 hours ago 5:39PM
Here’s a look at the Ferguson miss.
???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ????????????????!
Went right down the middle and Sels saved with his legs!
He lost his footing just as he struck the ball! pic.twitter.com/U7GlnZygjU
2 hours ago 5:42PM
40 mins: Bakayoko’s corner is overhit goes straight out of play.
The visitors have shown very little from an attacking perspective.
2 hours ago 5:44PM
Koni De Winter of Belgium collides in the air with Evan Ferguson of Ireland. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
2 hours ago 5:47PM
45 mins: Close!
It’s route one as a long ball is played up to Ferguson, he heads on for Szmodics, who gets in behind the defender but blasts a shot from a tight angle over the bar.
2 hours ago 5:48PM
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 0-0 BELGIUM
2 hours ago 5:51PM
So that’s that. A decent first half from an Irish perspective.
They dealt effectively with Belgium’s below-par attack and looked well-organised, reducing the visitors to half-chances at best.
They threatened sporadically as well. The Ferguson penalty miss was the big one, but they also went close through Ogbene and Szmodics.
2 hours ago 5:53PM
FAI CEO Jonathan Hill with Jack Chambers, T.D, Minister of State at the Department of Transport. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
2 hours ago 5:57PM
Kelleher hasn’t had much to do but has done the basics well.
Calm as houses, Caoimhín. ???? pic.twitter.com/BttbOqIbNv
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 23, 20242 hours ago 6:05PM
The second half has begun.
Belgium have made changes
Trossard, Tilemans and Castagne are off.
Doku, Meunier and Batshuayi are on.
Straight away, Ireland have a half-chance as Ferguson heads off just over from a Brady cross.
2 hours ago 6:11PM
50 mins: Decent chance for Belgium.
A crossfield ball finds Bakayoko, who heads it back to Openda, whose first-time shot is too close to the goalkeeper to seriously trouble Kelleher.
2 hours ago 6:12PM
53 mins: Great work by Ogbene.
He carries the ball for an extended period before eventually winning a free kick near the corner flag.
2 hours ago 6:15PM
54 mins: Disappointing from an Irish perspective as Brady curls his free-kick out onto the roof of the net.
Moments later, the same player’s cross narrowly misses the onrushing Ogbene.
It’s a good spell for Ireland.
2 hours ago 6:21PM
61 mins: It’s been an uneventful last few minutes.
Belgium are coming more into it again after a decent Irish spell.
2 hours ago 6:23PM
64 mins: More Belgium changes.
Bakayoko and De Winter are off.
Onana and Lukebakio are on.
2 hours ago 6:27PM
67 mins: Good work from Ogbene and Smallbone after a great crossfield pass from Collins ends with Szmodics’ goalbound shot being blocked.
Ireland have been the better team for a good portion of this half.
2 hours ago 6:29PM
70 mins: Changes for Ireland now.
Ogbene, Ferguson and Szmodics are off.
Knight, Idah and Johnston come on.
2 hours ago 6:36PM
75 mins: Good save from Kelleher.
Batshuayi escapes from Brady down the right and crosses for Meunier, whose low shot is parried away.
Moments later, Doku blasts the ball a few inches over the bar from the edge of the area.
1 hour ago 6:40PM
79 mins: There are claims for a penalty as Openda goes down with Kelleher nearby.
However, looking at the replay, it would have been harsh as the contact appears minimal.
Meanwhile, Ireland make another change with Matt Doherty coming on in place of a tiring Robbie Brady.
1 hour ago 6:41PM
Ireland's Caoimhin Kelleher makes a save James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
1 hour ago 6:42PM
83 mins: Another change for Belgium.
Goalkeeper Sels is replaced by Thomas Kaminski.
1 hour ago 6:45PM
86 mins: Another change for Ireland.
Smallbone is replaced by Ebosele, which presumably means Knight will drop back into midfield.
1 hour ago 6:49PM
90 mins: Josh Cullen is named player of the match.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
1 hour ago 6:52PM
FULL-TIME: IRELAND 0-0 BELGIUM
1 hour ago 6:55PM
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to follow shortly.
