Republic of Ireland
Greece
Gibraltar
Netherlands 2
France 2
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Republic of Ireland 3 - 0 Scotland
Report | Republic of Ireland 3-0 Scotland
Alan Browne, Troy Parrott, and a stunning effort from Michael Obafemi helped Stephen Kenny's side to victory and their first three points of the campaign.
Stephen Kenny made five changes to the team as Michael Obafemi got his first start for Ireland with Troy Parrott also coming into the side and Jayson Molumby slotting into midfield.
In the opening exchanges, both teams had a share of possession, but the hosts had the first attempt at a goal. Michael Obafemi met a cross delivered into the Scottish area by James McClean, but his header was deflected behind for a corner by Scott McKenna.
Shane Duffy met the ball at the back post from the subsequent corner, and as his effort flashed across the face of the goal, it was met by Alan Browne, who was on hand to guide the ball past Craig Gordan from close range to give Ireland the lead.
For the visitors, John McGinn came close to levelling the game with a low strike from the edge of the area that just went wide of Kelleher's goal. In the next attack, a brilliant ball into the box by Obafemi, who initially spotted Troy Parrott's deep run, reached its intended target, and Parrott did excellently to head it past Gordon to double Ireland's lead.
Shane Duffy came close to scoring a third after a corner from Molumby was met by the defender, but Gordon made a fantastic stop. Ireland got off to the perfect start following the restart as Obafemi picked up the ball just outside the area and struck a fantastic effort that sailed into the top of the net, leaving Gordan with no chance of stopping it.
Ireland came close to adding a fourth goal when Scott Hogan's header appeared to cross the line, only for Hanley to clear it at the last second. Troy Parrott broke free of the Scottish back line moments later, but Gordon intercepted his cross to Hogan.
The Republic of Ireland will end this series of Nations League games by facing Ukraine on Tuesday evening in Poland in reverse of this week's fixture.
Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK), Duffy ©, Egan, Cullen, Parrott (Robinson 84), McClean, Collins, Browne, Molumby (Hendrick 84), Knight (Hourihane 70), Obafemi (Hogan 55).
Subs not used: O’Leary (GK), Travers (GK) Christie, Stevens, Keane, O’Shea, Hogan, Hamilton, Lenihan.
Scotland: Gordon (GK), Robertson ©, McTominay, Hanley, McGinn (Armstrong 59), McGregor, Adams (Stewart 59), Christie (Brown 59), Hendry (Gilmour, 46), McKenna (Souttar 73), Ralston.
Subs not used: McCrorie (GK) Kelly (GK), Patterson, Taylor, Turnbull, Campbell, Hickey.
Carlsberg Man of the Match: Michael Obafemi
Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Attendance: 46,947
Preview | Republic of Ireland v Scotland
Stephen Kenny's Ireland side go into the UEFA Nations League fixture on the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat against Ukraine on Wednesday.
It is Scotland's first visit to Ireland since 2015 where Ireland were held to a 1-1 draw as a John O'Shea own goal levelled the tie after Jon Walters' opener at the Aviva Stadium in a European Championship qualifier.
Overall, in 10 matches since the first meeting in 1961, both sides have won on four occasions with three draws between the two sides. The match will almost be a sell-out with only Premium Level tickets available.
Match Details
Fixture: Republic of Ireland v Scotland
Competition: UEFA Nations League
Stadium: Aviva Stadium
Date: Saturday, June 11
Kick-off: 5pm
Tickets: Premium Level tickets available from Ticketmaster here
TV: RTE & Premier Sports
Match Officials
Referee: Marco Di Bello (ITA)
Assistant 1: Filippo Meli (ITA)
Assistant 2: Stefano Alassio (ITA)
Fourth Official: Rosario Abisso (ITA)
Video Assistant Referee: Gianluca Aureliano (ITA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Giacomo Paganessi (ITA)
Team News
Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has confirmed that skipper Seamus Coleman has been ruled out of the remaining UEFA Nations League fixtures against Scotland and Ukraine.
John Egan is also set to miss out on the Scotland match through injury with the Ireland manager set to make wholesale changes for the visit of Scotland with fatigue and fitness a concern for a number of players from the Armenia and Ukraine fixtures.
What he said - Ireland manager Stephen Kenny
"I’m disappointed we’ve not got points on the board. I thought in the game against Ukraine, I felt every player gave absolutely everything of themselves, every ounce of themselves.
“We had a good run where from March to March we scored 23 goals, which is a really high amount for an international team. Then we have come up in the last two games and come up short in front of goal. It doesn’t mean everything is wrong, it just means we haven’t capitalised on the opportunities that we’ve been given.
"We have to improve in that regard and we have to make sure we all work hard and believe in what we are doing and hit the back of the net. It is a game of huge significance in front of a full house pretty much so we'll be looking to put the last two matches right.”
What he said - Ireland defender Nathan Collins
"We're looking forward to the game of course. It is a huge game and some brilliant matches down the years with great players playing in this fixture.
"There is a bit of rivalry there which gives it a bit more of a sense of occasion. We'll be looking to put the past two matches behind us and take the positives from both of them.
"I thought we could have quite easily got results in both matches and where the first goal is so crucial, we could have won comfortably if we had converted early chances in both matches.
"I want to play every match and I think it suits players to have so many matches. Short turnaround presents a different challenge but it means we can get back out there and put the week right."
Watch the press conference on FAI TV here...
Republic of Ireland v Scotland - Statistics
- This will be the first meeting between Republic of Ireland and Scotland since June 2015 at the Aviva Stadium in a EURO 2016 qualifier – the game ended 1-1 with Jon Walters netting for the Boys in Green and Scotland later equalising through a John O’Shea own-goal.
- Scotland are unbeaten in their last four away games against Republic of Ireland in all competitions, although three of those meetings ended level (W1). Scotland’s last away defeat to Ireland came back in June 1963, losing 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Noel Cantwell.
- Republic of Ireland have picked up just one win from their last 13 games against nations from the United Kingdom (D7 L5), winning 1-0 against Wales in a World Cup qualifier in October 2017. In fact, they’ve failed to score in their last five such games.
- Republic of Ireland have never won a UEFA Nations League game (D5 L7), with the Boys in Green netting just two goals in their 12 games in the competition.
- Scotland have lost just one of their last 10 games in all competitions (W7 D2), going down 3-1 at home to Ukraine earlier this month.
- Scotland are looking to win four consecutive competitive away games for the first time since a run of seven between 1948 and 1952.
- Republic of Ireland are winless in their last 10 competitive home games (D7 L3), with no side scoring more than once in a single match in that time (F4 A7). They lost 1-0 against Ukraine last time out, but haven’t lost consecutive competitive home games since October 1972 (a run of three).
- Scotland have won 64% of their 11 games in the UEFA Nations League (W7 D1 L3), though all three of their defeats in the competition have come away from home.
Tactical Lineups
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 Max O'Leary (G)
- 23 Mark Travers (G)
- 2 Cyrus Christie
- 3 Enda Stevens
- 7 Callum Robinson
- 8 Conor Hourihane
- 9 Will Keane
- 13 Jeff Hendrick
- 18 Dara O'Shea
- 20 Scott Hogan
- 21 CJ Hamilton
- 22 Darragh Lenihan
Coach
Stephen Kenny
Scotland
Substitutes
- 12 Robby McCrorie (G)
- 21 Liam Kelly (G)
- 2 Nathan Patterson
- 6 John Souttar
- 9 Ross Stewart
- 14 Billy Gilmour
- 16 Greg Taylor
- 17 Stuart Armstrong
- 18 David Turnbull
- 19 Jacob Brown
- 20 Allan Campbell
- 22 Aaron Hickey
Coach
Steve Clarke
Officials
- Referee Marco Di Bello
- Assistant Referees Filippo Meli
- UEFA Delegate Eduard Dervishaj
- Assistant Referee Two Stefano Alassio
- Fourth Official Rosario Abisso
- Video Assistant Referee Gianluca Aureliano
- Assistant Video Assistant Referee Giacomo Paganessi
- Referee Observer Michael Koukoulakis
Match Statistics
- Republic of Ireland
- Scotland
Minute by Minute Commentary