
Wales 0 - 0 Republic of Ireland

Ireland held to scoreless draw in Wales
Wales 0 Republic of Ireland 0
The Republic of Ireland played out a scoreless draw with Wales in an international friendly at Cardiff City Stadium.
Some excellent saves from Welsh goalkeeper Boaz Myhill ensured that the Welsh kept their first clean sheet in 12 games and earned their first draw in six years since they drew 2-2 with Ireland back in November 2007 at the Millennium Stadium.
Giovanni Trapattoni's side were well organised and defensively sound against a Welsh side that had come into the game on the back of two wins out of their last three games including a 2-1 victory over Ireland's qualifying group rivals Austria.
His one disappointment would have been that his side failed to convert one of the 12 chances they created during the game which would have given them a morale boosting victory ahead of the crunch September qualifiers at home to Sweden and away to Austria.
Ireland opened with a 4-4-1-1 formation which saw Wes Hoolahan playing behind lone striker Shane Long and they enjoyed the bulk of the early possession but it took 23 minutes before they started to turn that control into goal scoring chances.
A good Irish break swept down the field and ended with a ball from Jonathon Walters ball being laid itno the path of Glenn Whelan by Robbie Brady but the Stoke City midfielder pulled his shot wide from the edge of the box.
Then, a couple of minutes later, Shane Long laid the ball off for the supporting Brady but his shot was too high while seconds later Long lazed over from 10 metres with the goal at his mercy following a great pull-back from James McCarthy.
The chances continued to come and Walters shot wide from the edge of the box before the best chance of the half was carved out by Brady following good work by Hoolahan and Long. Showing quick feet on the edge of the box, the Hull City player wriggled his way into space and sent a curling shot past Myhill that just edged past the far post.
Wales' best opportunities in the opening half came from the four corners they earned. From their first, John O'Shea showed great alertness at the back post to head away as Ashley Williams prepared to pounce while, from their last of the half, the unmarked Ben Davis made a late run into the box but blazed his first time shot across the face of goal.
Giovanni Trapattoni introduced James McClean for Robbie Brady at half-time and Marc Wilson and Long headed over from corners as the Irish continued to carve out the chances at the Welsh end.
The last half hour saw both managers emptying their benches with Ireland bringing on Darren O'Dea, Conor Sammon, Paul Green, Andy Keogh and Paddy Madden for his senior debut.
The Yeovil Town striker certainly made an impression during the 24 minutes he was on the pitch after replacing Hoolahan and his first contribution was to link-up with Long who burst through the Welsh defence and fired a shot that was slightly too close to Myhill. who saved at the second attempt.
A good run down the left by Walters finished with a pull back to Madden whose first time left-footed shot was brilliantly parried by Myhill and Williams then blocked McClean;s goalbound effort from the rebound.
Shortly afterwards Madden had another opportunity with a right footed shot which was saved by the excellent Myhill who was fortunate in the dying moments that his botched fisted clearance was volley over by Madden who showed a remarkable ability to be in the right place a lot of the time.
Wales created few chances, the best being a long range free kick from Craig Bellamy which was saved by Keiren Westwood while substitute Sam Vokes shot wide when a long diagonal ball over the top gave him a brief glimpse of the Irish goal.
Welsh captain Ashley Willaims and Ireland striker Shane Long were booked after 35 minutes for unsporting behaviour following an off the ball incident.
Four different players wore the captain's armband with O'Shea, Long, Walters and Seamus Coleman assuming the captaincy for various periods of the game.
After the game Giovanni Trapattoni declared himself reasonably happy with the exercise.
"I think we deserved to win. We had three clear chances but the goalkeeper of Wales was fantastic. It's our first game, it's pre-season but I am happy with the team at this moment. I was worried that after the holidays the team would not have the same mentality but I saw enough good things this evening."
Wales: Myhill; Gunter, A Williams, Ricketts, B Davies; Ledley (King 60), Allen (Crofts 86), Collison (C Davies 82), Robson-Kanu (Taylor 74); J Williams; Bellamy (Vokes 60).
Republic of Ireland: Team: Keiren Westwood: Seamus Coleman, John O'Shea (Darren O'Dea 60), Ciaran Clark, Marc Wilson; Jonathan Walters (Conor Sammon 84), James McCarthy, Glenn Whelan (Paul Green 60), Robbie Brady (James McClean 46); Wes Hoolahan (Paddy Madden 69); Shane Long (Andy Keogh 74).
Referee: Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic).
Trapattoni names team to play Wales
Giovanni Trapattoni has named the Republic of Ireland team to play Wales in tomorrow night's international friendly at Cardiff City Stadium.
The team will line out in a 4-4-1-1 formation as the manager beings to set out his stall ahead of next month's crucial World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria.
John O'Shea will captain the team in what will be his 90th international appearance while midfielder Glenn Whelan is poised to win his 50th cap.
Shane Long will be deployed as the lone front man with Wes Hoolahan filling the gap between him and midfield quartet of Jonathon Walters, Whelan, James McCarthy and Robbie Brady.
O'Shea will be partnered in the centre of defence by Ciaran Clark with Seamus Coleman and Marc Wilson filling the full back berths and behind them goalkeeper Keiren Westwood replaces the injnured David Forde between the posts.
Team: Keiren Westwood: Seamus Coleman, John O'Shea (captain), Ciaran Clark, Marc Wilson; Jonathan Walters, James McCarthy, Glenn Whelan, Robbie Brady; Wes Hoolahan; Shane Long.
Trapattoni names provisional 26 man squad to face Wales
Giovanni Trapattoni announced a provisional 26 man squad to face Wales on August 14 in Cardiff City Stadium (KO 19.45).The squad will be shortened ahead of the fixture in order to accommodate injuries etc.
Speaking on Friday in Bray, Co Wicklow as part of the FAI's 2013 AGM Festival of Football in the county, the Republic of Ireland manager said: 'We can draw a lot from our performances in May and June. The team showed strong character and enthusiasm against Spain, England and Georgia, and picked up three vital points against the Faroe Islands.
"The players have demonstrated that they are building on each game, and are working very well together.
"This fixture will allow us one more opportunity to prepare for the important World Cup qualifiers in September against Sweden and Austria. We will use this time to experiment and develop confidence ahead of the games. I am looking forward to assembling the squad in Cardiff on August 11."
Name | Club | DOB | Caps | Goals |
David Forde | Millwall FC | 20/12/1979 | 10 | 0 |
Keiren Westwood | Sunderland AFC | 23/10/1984 | 15 | 0 |
Darren Randolph | Birmingham City FC | 12/05/1987 | 2 | 0 |
John O'Shea | Sunderland AFC | 30/04/1981 | 89 | 1 |
Sean St Ledger | Leicester City FC | 28/12/1984 | 36 | 2 |
Marc Wilson | Stoke City FC | 17/09/1987 | 7 | 1 |
Seamus Coleman | Everton FC | 11/10/1988 | 13 | 0 |
Stephen Kelly | Reading FC | 06/09/1983 | 34 | 0 |
Darren O'Dea | FC Metalurh Donetsk | 04/02/1987 | 19 | 1 |
Ciaran Clark | Aston Villa FC | 26/09/1989 | 6 | 1 |
Paul McShane | Hull City FC | 06/01/1986 | 31 | 0 |
Glenn Whelan | Stoke City FC | 13/01/1984 | 49 | 2 |
James McCarthy | Wigan Athletic FC | 12/11/1990 | 15 | 0 |
Paul Green | Leeds Utd FC | 10/04/1983 | 16 | 0 |
Jeff Hendrick | Derby County FC | 31/01/1992 | 4 | 0 |
Aiden McGeady | Spartak Moscow FC | 04/04/1986 | 60 | 2 |
Anthony Pilkington | Norwich City FC | 06/06/1988 | 0 | 0 |
James McClean | Sunderland AFC | 22/04/1989 | 12 | 0 |
Robbie Brady | Hull City FC | 14/01/1992 | 5 | 1 |
David Meyler | Hull City FC | 29/05/1989 | 4 | 0 |
Stephen Quinn | Hull City FC | 01/04/1986 | 2 | 0 |
Wes Hoolahan | Norwich City FC | 20/05/1982 | 6 | 1 |
Shane Long | West Bromwich Albion | 22/01/1987 | 37 | 9 |
Conor Sammon | Derby County FC | 06/11/1986 | 7 | 0 |
Jon Walters | Stoke City FC | 20/09/1983 | 19 | 4 |
Simon Cox | Nottingham Forest | 28/04/1987 | 26 | 4 |
Team Lineups
Wales
- 0 Boaz Myhill (G)
- 0 Chris Gunter
- 0 Ashley Williams (C)
- 0 Sam Ricketts
- 0 Ben Davies
- 0 Jack Collison
- 0 Joe Ledley
- 0 Joe Allen
- 0 Hal Robson-Kanu
- 0 Jonny Williams
- 0 Craig Bellamy
Substitutes
- 0 Craig Davies
- 13 Andy King
- 0 Neil Taylor
- 0 Andrew Crofts
- 0 Sam Vokes
- 0 Adam Matthews
- 0 Danny Gabbidon
- 0 David Vaughan
- 0 Owain Fôn Williams (G)
- 0 Simon Church
- 0 Wayne Hennessey (G)
- 0 Jazz Richards
Republic of Ireland
- 0 Keiren Westwood (G)
- 0 Seamus Coleman
- 0 John O'Shea (C)
- 0 Ciaran Clark
- 0 Marc Wilson
- 0 Jon Walters
- 0 James McCarthy
- 0 Glenn Whelan
- 0 Robbie Brady
- 0 Wes Hoolahan
- 0 Shane Long
Substitutes
Match Statistics
- Wales
- Republic of Ireland
Minute by Minute Commentary