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Republic of Ireland Euro 2012 warm-up friendly with England ‘highly unlikely’, admits FAI chief John Delaney
Irish football’s supremo says a potential quarter-final meeting between the sides next summer has dissuaded the Three Lions, but a fixture will happen ‘sooner rather than later'
13 Dec 2011 17:28:00
By Joe Wright
Getty Images
FAI chief executive John Delaney has admitted that a friendly with England before next summer’s Euro 2012 finals is now "highly unlikely".
Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni had given the fixture his backing, but the FA are reluctant to commit to a match in May as the two sides could meet one another in the quarter finals of the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
Delaney has confirmed that an exhibition match is in the offing, however, and could well occur in the autumn of next year at the Aviva Stadium.
"The England game is looking less likely for May," he told Ken Doherty’s show on Sunshine FM.
"The fact from the English perspective that we could play them in the quarter-finals... they're not that keen to do it in May, but they're keen to come sooner rather than later after that.
"But it's highly unlikely that it would be May now."
Delaney was also quizzed on ticket applications, as the allocations for some of Ireland’s group games has been limited to just 6,000 – a figure which could leave many fans disappointed.
"We'll get as many tickets as we can," he said. "But we won't be able to satisfy the expected demand that will come through.
“But Irish fans are genius at finding our way into football grounds."
Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni had given the fixture his backing, but the FA are reluctant to commit to a match in May as the two sides could meet one another in the quarter finals of the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
| Bet: | Returns: | Hungary £27.00 | Draw £32.00 | Ireland £24.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Hungary £28.00 | Draw £29.00 | Ireland £23.80 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Hungary £28.00 | Draw £32.50 | Ireland £25.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Hungary £28.80 | Draw £33.00 | Ireland £24.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Hungary £30.00 | Draw £33.00 | Ireland £24.00 |
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Delaney has confirmed that an exhibition match is in the offing, however, and could well occur in the autumn of next year at the Aviva Stadium.
"The England game is looking less likely for May," he told Ken Doherty’s show on Sunshine FM.
"The fact from the English perspective that we could play them in the quarter-finals... they're not that keen to do it in May, but they're keen to come sooner rather than later after that.
"But it's highly unlikely that it would be May now."
Delaney was also quizzed on ticket applications, as the allocations for some of Ireland’s group games has been limited to just 6,000 – a figure which could leave many fans disappointed.
"We'll get as many tickets as we can," he said. "But we won't be able to satisfy the expected demand that will come through.
“But Irish fans are genius at finding our way into football grounds."
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Well, no wonder - ol' Taras looks about 12.
"Ukraine are preparing for their last friendly, against Turkey in Ingolstadt tomorrow, with the starting lineup at the Euros very much unclear. Taras Mykhalyk and Yevhen Khacheridi were tried as central defenders against Austria - not a bright idea, and that didn't work well at all..."
Well, no wonder - ol' Taras looks about 12.
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