Ireland will begin their 2024 UEFA Nations League campaign with a home clash against England in September, following UEFA's confirmation of all fixtures for their upcoming Group B2 games. Last night, the Boys in Green were drawn into a group with England, Finland, and Greece, with all games scheduled for the autumn of this year.
Ireland will host the Three Lions on Saturday, September 7, before facing Greece at home a few days later, on Tuesday, September 10. October will feature back-to-back away games, first against Finland on Thursday, October 10, then heading to Greece for match-day four on Sunday, October 13.
Ireland's final home game of the campaign will be against Finland on Thursday, November 14, with the final matchday in England on Sunday, November 17. The Boys in Green are expected to have a new manager in place well before then. The long-awaited search for Stephen Kenny's successor seems to be nearing its end, according to senior figures at the FAI.
FAI director of football, Marc Canham, stated this week: "We are nearing the end of the process, and we hope to conclude that as soon as possible. We don't want to put a specific timeline on it to hold ourselves to. We just want to make sure we get the right person who is going to take us forward into friendlies that we have coming up for the rest of the year, an exciting draw for the Nations League that then leads us into the World Cup campaign."
Our full #NationsLeague fixture schedule 🤩
🇮🇪 v 🏴 | Saturday 7th September
🇮🇪 v 🇬🇷 | Tuesday 10th September
🇫🇮 v 🇮🇪 | Thursday 10th October
🇬🇷 v 🇮🇪 | Sunday 13th October
🇮🇪 v 🇫🇮 | Thursday 14th November
🏴 v 🇮🇪 | Sunday 17th November pic.twitter.com/s4YUWfLKaG— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) February 9, 2024
One of the men who has been heavily linked is former Ireland player and current England U-21 boss Lee Carsley. Reports emerged last week that the Birmingham native was set to take the job but then turned it down. Other reports suggest the deal is not dead and that Carsley could end up being the next Ireland boss if assurances are made.
Carsley won the Euros with his England side last year, and his reputation is gradually growing. Gareth Southgate, the England senior manager, understands why a team like Ireland would be interested in hiring his colleague. “I think he feels valued by us, but I can understand why other people would be interested as well,” said Southgate after the Nations League draw. “He enjoys the job he has with us. We’re really happy working with him."
2024 UEFA Nations League Group B2 fixtures (kick-offs are Irish Time)Saturday, September 7: Ireland v England, KO 5pmTuesday, September 10 | Ireland v Greece, KO 7.45pmThursday, October 10 | Finland v Ireland, KO 7.45pmSunday, October 13 | Greece vs. Ireland, KO 7.45pmThursday, November 14 | Ireland v Finland, KO 7.45pmSunday, November 17 | England v Ireland, KO 5 p.m.
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