Republic of Ireland
Greece
Gibraltar
Netherlands 2
France 2
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Republic of Ireland 1 - 1 Serbia
REPORT | Ireland 1-1 Serbia - Late equaliser secures point
The home side rallied late and could have claimed all three points in what was an excellent display by the home side. The game will be remembered for the outstanding performance of Gavin Bazunu who was a guardian of the gates of the Aviva Stadium.
Andrew Omobamidele made his first competitive start for Ireland along with Jamie McGrath who made his home debut with Alan Browne, Jeff Hendrick also starting as Stephen Kenny made four changes from the side that drew with Azerbjaian.
The first chance of the match fell to the visitors when a cross from the right was headed over by Filip Djuričić which took a deflection of James McClean, the resulting corner saw Gavin Bazunu punch it clear.
A mix up in the back saw Shane Duffy lose the ball to Dušan Tadić however his shot was excellently saved by Bazunu. Ireland's first attack came when Jamie McGrath’s free-kick was sent into the area but it was headed clear at the near post.
Alan Browne sent in an excellent ball to Adam Idah but his header just flashed wide of Predrag Rajković post. Bazunu was called into action once again this time to stop Nemanja Gudelj’s long-range effort.
Jeff Hendrick went close with a clever effort that just went wide of Rajković’s post. The visitors took the lead, however, when Sergej Milinković-Savić near post header snuck past Bazunu who got a hand to it at the near post from a corner from Tadić.
Ireland continued to press and Hendrick went close again but his curling free-kick following a foul by Djuričić was well saved. Aleksandar Mitrović was denied when his half volley was excellently saved by Bazunu as he pushed his effort around the post.
Ireland started brightly in the second half which a series of early chances, the best came when a cross from James McClean was met by Alan Browne in the area but he couldn’t get the right connection on it.
Mitrović was once again denied by Bazunu as his low effort was saved excellently with his feet. He was called into action once again as Bazunu pulled off an excellent save to deny Mitrović with a low block.
James McClean stopped what was a certain second goal as he cleared Jović’s shot after he beat Bazunu on the edge of the area. Ireland got their equaliser following a period of pressure, Callum Robinson’s cross was headed down by Shane Duffy and his effort struck off two Serbian defenders and past Rajković.
Serbia nearly restored their lead with a long-range free-kick from Nemanja Gudelj struck the crossbar. Shane Duffy nearly added a second for Ireland as he towered over Robinson’s cross but it went over the bar. Andrew Omobamidele was denied right on the final whistle as his shot was well saved.
Republic of Ireland: Gavin Bazunu, Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy (C) , John Egan, Josh Cullen (Jayson Molumby 66 mins) , Alan Browne (Callum Robinson 57 mins), Adam Idah (James Collins 78), James McClean, Jeff Hendrick (Conor Hourihane 78), Jamie McGrath (Jayson Molumby 66 mins), Andrew Omobamidele.
Subs: Caoimhin Kelleher (GK), James Talbot (GK), Ryan Manning, Troy Parrott, Cyrus Christie, James Collins, Harry Arter, Liam Scales.
Serbia: Predrag Rajković, Strahinja Pavlović, Nikola Milenković (Darko Lazović 86), Nemanja Gudelj, Aleksandar Mitrović, Dušan Tadić © (Nemanja Maksimović 82), Miloš Veljković, Filip Kostić, Dušan Vlahović (Luka Jović 71), Sergej MilinkovićSavić, Filip Djuričić (Nemanja Radonjić 71).
Subs: Marko Dmitrović, Mile Svilar, Ivan Ilić, Stefan Mitrović, Uroš Račić, Saša Lukić, Mihailo Ristić, Darko Lazović, Filip Mladenović.
Referee: José María Sánchez (ESP)
Man of the Match: Gavin Bazunu
Booked: Filip Djuričić, Adam Idah, Nemanja Radonjić, Jayson Molumby
PREVIEW | Republic of Ireland v Serbia
Ireland go into the game on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw against Azerbaijan on Saturday in front of over 21,000 supporters.
Serbia come into the match on the back of an impressive 4-1 win over Luxembourg and as they look to continue their impressive qualifying campaign so far, which leaves them top of Group A, ahead of Portugal on goal difference.
Match Details
Fixture: Republic of Ireland v Serbia
Date: Tuesday, September 7
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Competition: FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifying - European Qualifiers
TV: RTE & Sky Sports
Team News
Ireland captain Seamus Coleman has been ruled out of the Serbia qualifier through injury and has been Cyrus Christie called up to link up with the squad today ahead of MD-1 training at the Aviva Stadium.
Tickets
A limited number of tickets for the Serbia match are available here.
Match Officials
Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez (ESP)
Assistant 1: Raul Cabañero (ESP)
Assistant 2: Iñigo Prieto (ESP)
Fourth Official: Pablo González (ESP)
Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro Hernández (ESP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Teodoro Sobrino (ESP)
What he said - Ireland Manager Stephen Kenny
“I don’t accept that at all. The confidence of the players: they displayed the confidence. Take the four matches that people are talking about in the campaign. In the games against Serbia and Portugal away, they are probably two of our best performances away from home in the last decade, without question. We lost 3-2 and 2-1.
“Against Luxembourg, we didn’t play well, it was a poor performance but we still didn’t deserve to lose the game based on chances, we had more chances. The other night we dominated and we should have won well.
“We have taken the best young players that we have seen, probably, for a long, long time and we blooded a lot of players in that period. And you are not always going to get a level of consistency with that.
“We didn’t not try to win the games. We went very close to winning in Serbia and winning against Portugal, away from home, we scored the first goal in both games, and played brilliant football in both games.
"Against Azerbaijan, it was a good occasion, the supporters were brilliant, we started brilliantly, couldn’t get that goal, they scored a goal from 25 yards and defended deep, we threw the kitchen sink at them, so many attempts at goal but we missed the target. Our finishing could have been better, we have only ourselves to blame in that regard."
Watch the full press conference with manager Stephen Kenny here...
What he said - Ireland defender James McClean
"As senior players, we have been here a long time, we know how it works and the young players need to learn, so we just have to tell them, 'you know what, it's part and parcel of football, pay no attention'. "You've got young players out and I don’t want to use it as a cop-out but these lads, this is their first time playing international football, this is a manager in his first time in international football.
"We are going a different path to what Ireland teams have produced in years in terms of style of football. "Not even that, you take into consideration the whole COVID thing, this is the first time these young lads are playing in front of crowds, and that spurs you on alone, so obviously I’d ask for patience with him.
"Football, it’s cut-throat, the media’s harsh and I ask for a bit of patience. But when you’re not winning games, it falls on deaf ears and I can understand that."
Watch the full press conference with James McClean here...
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Gavin Bazunu (Portsmouth, on loan from Manchester City), James Talbot (Bohemians)
Defenders: Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Andrew Omobamidele (Norwich City), Liam Scales (Celtic), Cyrus Christie (Fulham)
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Harry Arter (Nottingham Forest), Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren), Jayson Molumby (Brighton and Hove Albion), Alan Browne (Preston North End)
Attackers: Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), James Collins (Cardiff City), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Troy Parrott (MK Dons, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion)
Tactical Lineups
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 Caoimhin Kelleher (G)
- 23 James Talbot (G)
- 3 Ryan Manning
- 8 Conor Hourihane
- 10 Troy Parrott
- 12 Callum Robinson
- 14 Cyrus Christie
- 15 Daryl Horgan
- 17 Jayson Molumby
- 19 James Collins
- 20 Harry Arter
- 21 Liam Scales
Coach
Stephen Kenny
Serbia
Substitutes
- 1 Marko Dmitrović (G)
- 23 Mile Svilar (G)
- 3 Filip Mladenović
- 5 Ivan Ilić
- 6 Nemanja Maksimović
- 7 Nemanja Radonjić
- 11 Luka Jović
- 13 Stefan Mitrović
- 14 Uroš Račić
- 16 Saša Lukić
- 19 Mihailo Ristić
- 22 Darko Lazović
Coach
Dragan Stojković
Officials
- Referee José María Sánchez
- Assistant Referees Raúl Cabañero
- UEFA Delegate Per Svärd
- Assistant Referee Two Iñigo Prieto
- Fourth Official Pablo González Fuertes
- Video Assistant Referee Alejandro Hernández
- Assistant Video Assistant Referee Teodoro Sobrino
- Referee Observer Marinus Koopman
Match Statistics
- Republic of Ireland
- Serbia
Minute by Minute Commentary