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Played
February 8, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
Aviva Stadium — Dublin
Referee: M. Courtney
Attendance: 19783
February 8, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
Aviva Stadium — Dublin
Referee: M. Courtney
Attendance: 19783
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| Ireland | 1.73 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 1.57 | 1.83 | 1.55 |
| Draw | 3.30 | 19.00 | 0.00 | 3.60 | 2.40 | 3.65 |
| Wales | 5.50 | 91.00 | 0.00 | 6.50 | 6.00 | 7.00 |
Nations Cup Preview: Ireland – Wales
The Boys in Green meet the Dragons in the inaugural Nations Cup encounter...
By Robin Bairner
It’s Good To Be Back
Nearly three decades after the abolition of the British Home Championship, the Carling Nations Cup will kick-off to offer the Celtic nations of the United Kingdom, plus the Republic of Ireland, the chance to pit themselves against each other on an annual basis once more. Ireland plays host to the first nations cup, and the opening game sees the Boys in Green meet Wales.
The Irish weren’t involved in the original competition, but they will start as favourites to claim the inaugural crown, boasting the highest world ranking of any of the four competing nations, not to mention home advantage.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s side still hold out genuine hope of reaching Euro 2012 by virtue of winning qualifying Group B, but early results make this an improbable ambition. Armenia and Andorra were dispatched into the opening two matches, but since a home defeat to Russia and a draw in Slovakia have rather complicated matters.
With the Nations Cup fixtures in February and May, they provide a sandwich for a qualifying match against Macedonia in March, so this is the last opportunity for Trapattoni to blood players such as Ciaran Clark and Seamus Coleman in an international setting before that vital fixture.
Having recently inaugurated the Aviva Stadium, the Boys in Green will be hoping for a win to send them on the road to picking up their first silverware at the venue.
Full Speed Ahead
There has been a steady decline in the fortunes of the Welsh national football side in recent years. Not since Euro 2004 qualifying have they seriously been in the running to reach a major international football tournament, and already their hopes of reaching the forthcoming European Championships in Ukraine and Poland are all but extinguished.
Only three qualifying matches have been played, but all three have been lost. A 1-0 loss against group underdogs Montenegro got the campaign off to the worst possible start, and defeats against Bulgaria and Switzerland were quick to follow. Indeed, 2010 as a whole was miserable for the Welsh game, with one victory recorded in five matches, and that came against Luxembourg.
John Toshack departed his role at the national coach in September, with Gary Speed being asked to act as his successor in December. This will be the former Newcastle United star’s first opportunity to take to the dugout of the Dragons, whom he won 85 caps for in a memorable playing career.
In the long-term, Speed’s aim will be to guide Wales back to becoming a competitive nation in qualifying, with the ultimate goal being a finals tournament for just the second time in their history. Looking in the more immediate future, the Dragons simply have to stabilise themselves and stop the rot of defeats.
Since holding Germany 0-0 in 2007, the Welsh haven’t drawn an international match, and if they were to kick-off their Nations Cup campaign with a similar result, they would have to see that as a positive step.
TEAM NEWS
Ireland
A hatful of Irishmen have had to pull out of this fixture due to injury complaints. Giovanni Trapattoni has lost the services of Liam Lawrence, Leon Best, Robbie Keane, James McCarthy and Keith Treacy.
The veteran Italian coach has confirmed that Seamus Coleman and Ciaran Clark will earn some game-time.
Wales
Injury problems are prevalent in the Welsh camp, with no less than seven players, including Aaron Ramsey, pulling out of the squad since it was named by Gary Speed. Boaz Myhill, Danny Gabbidon, Craig Morgan, David Edwards, Ched Evans and Steve Morison are the other players to have withdrawn.
Star man Gareth Bale hasn’t been convened due to a recent back injury.
Jermaine Easter and Darcy Blake have been called as reinforcements.
Nearly three decades after the abolition of the British Home Championship, the Carling Nations Cup will kick-off to offer the Celtic nations of the United Kingdom, plus the Republic of Ireland, the chance to pit themselves against each other on an annual basis once more. Ireland plays host to the first nations cup, and the opening game sees the Boys in Green meet Wales.
| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.33 | Draw £38.00 | Ireland £62.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | England £14.00 | Draw £43.30 | Ireland £55.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.33 | Draw £38.00 | Ireland £65.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | England £15.30 | Draw £38.00 | Ireland £65.00 |
|
The Irish weren’t involved in the original competition, but they will start as favourites to claim the inaugural crown, boasting the highest world ranking of any of the four competing nations, not to mention home advantage.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s side still hold out genuine hope of reaching Euro 2012 by virtue of winning qualifying Group B, but early results make this an improbable ambition. Armenia and Andorra were dispatched into the opening two matches, but since a home defeat to Russia and a draw in Slovakia have rather complicated matters.
With the Nations Cup fixtures in February and May, they provide a sandwich for a qualifying match against Macedonia in March, so this is the last opportunity for Trapattoni to blood players such as Ciaran Clark and Seamus Coleman in an international setting before that vital fixture.
Having recently inaugurated the Aviva Stadium, the Boys in Green will be hoping for a win to send them on the road to picking up their first silverware at the venue.
Full Speed Ahead
There has been a steady decline in the fortunes of the Welsh national football side in recent years. Not since Euro 2004 qualifying have they seriously been in the running to reach a major international football tournament, and already their hopes of reaching the forthcoming European Championships in Ukraine and Poland are all but extinguished.
Only three qualifying matches have been played, but all three have been lost. A 1-0 loss against group underdogs Montenegro got the campaign off to the worst possible start, and defeats against Bulgaria and Switzerland were quick to follow. Indeed, 2010 as a whole was miserable for the Welsh game, with one victory recorded in five matches, and that came against Luxembourg.
John Toshack departed his role at the national coach in September, with Gary Speed being asked to act as his successor in December. This will be the former Newcastle United star’s first opportunity to take to the dugout of the Dragons, whom he won 85 caps for in a memorable playing career.
In the long-term, Speed’s aim will be to guide Wales back to becoming a competitive nation in qualifying, with the ultimate goal being a finals tournament for just the second time in their history. Looking in the more immediate future, the Dragons simply have to stabilise themselves and stop the rot of defeats.
Since holding Germany 0-0 in 2007, the Welsh haven’t drawn an international match, and if they were to kick-off their Nations Cup campaign with a similar result, they would have to see that as a positive step.
TEAM NEWS
Ireland
A hatful of Irishmen have had to pull out of this fixture due to injury complaints. Giovanni Trapattoni has lost the services of Liam Lawrence, Leon Best, Robbie Keane, James McCarthy and Keith Treacy.
The veteran Italian coach has confirmed that Seamus Coleman and Ciaran Clark will earn some game-time.
Wales
Injury problems are prevalent in the Welsh camp, with no less than seven players, including Aaron Ramsey, pulling out of the squad since it was named by Gary Speed. Boaz Myhill, Danny Gabbidon, Craig Morgan, David Edwards, Ched Evans and Steve Morison are the other players to have withdrawn.
Star man Gareth Bale hasn’t been convened due to a recent back injury.
Jermaine Easter and Darcy Blake have been called as reinforcements.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Ireland 2-0 Wales
- 39.13 %
-
Ireland 2-1 Wales
- 17.39 %
-
Ireland 1-0 Wales
- 8.7 %
| Home Nations Cup (HNC) | Feb 8, 2011 | Ireland 3 - Wales 0 |
|
| Euro 2012 (EC) | Nov 17, 2007 | Wales 2 - Ireland 2 |
|
| Euro 2012 (EC) | Mar 24, 2007 | Ireland 1 - Wales 0 |
|
Ireland
    |
||
| Mar 26, 2013 | Ireland 2 - Austria 2 | WCQ |
| Mar 22, 2013 | Sweden 0 - Ireland 0 | WCQ |
| Feb 6, 2013 | Ireland 2 - Poland 0 | FR |
| Nov 14, 2012 | Ireland 0 - Greece 1 | FR |
| Oct 16, 2012 | Faroe Islands 1 - Ireland 4 | WCQ |
Wales
  |
||
| Mar 26, 2013 | Wales 1 - Croatia 2 | WCQ |
| Mar 22, 2013 | Scotland 1 - Wales 2 | WCQ |
| Feb 6, 2013 | Wales 2 - Austria 1 | FR |
| Oct 16, 2012 | Croatia 2 - Wales 0 | WCQ |
| Oct 12, 2012 | Wales 2 - Scotland 1 | WCQ |
| Returns: | Ireland £18.30 |
|
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| Returns: | Draw £190.00 |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 | |
| Returns: | Wales £910.00 |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
| - | Shay Given | |
| 4 | John O'Shea | Defender |
| - | Richard Dunne | |
| 2 | Sean St Ledger | Defender |
| - | Ciaran Clark | Defender |
| 7 | Seamus Coleman | Midfielder |
| 6 | Glenn Whelan | Midfielder |
| - | Damien Duff | |
| - | Darron Gibson | |
| 14 | Jonathan Walters | Striker |
| 9 | Kevin Doyle | Striker |
| 16 | Keiren Westwood | Goalkeeper |
| 12 | Stephen Kelly | Defender |
| 18 | Darren O'Dea | Defender |
| - | Marc Wilson | Defender |
| - | Keith Fahey | |
| 21 | Paul Green | Midfielder |
| 21 | Andy Keogh | Midfielder |
| 19 | Shane Long | Striker |
| - | Wayne Hennessey | |
| 5 | James Collins | Defender |
| 2 | Sam Ricketts | Defender |
| - | Danny Collins | |
| - | Neal Eardley | |
| - | Andrew Crofts | |
| 7 | David Vaughan | Midfielder |
| 17 | Hal Robson-Kanu | Striker |
| 15 | Andy King | Midfielder |
| - | Robert Earnshaw | |
| 16 | Simon Church | Striker |
| 12 | Jason Brown | Goalkeeper |
| 1 | Lewis Price | Goalkeeper |
| 6 | Ashley Williams | Defender |
| 6 | Lewin Nyatanga | Defender |
| 3 | Chris Gunter | Defender |
| - | Darcy Blake | |
| 10 | Joe Ledley | Defender |
| - | Andy Dorman | |
| 14 | Jermaine Easter | Striker |
| - | Freddy Eastwood | |
| 13 | Sam Vokes | Striker |
In front of a passionate home crowd, Ireland should have too much for the Welsh, whose recent competitive form has been woeful.
Results
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robbie Keane Striker Los Angeles Galaxy |
3 | 1 |
|
Robert Earnshaw Striker Toronto FC |
2 | 0 |
|
Kenny Miller Striker Vancouver |
2 | 0 |
|
Damien Duff Midfielder Fulham |
1 | 0 |
|
James Morrison Midfielder West Brom |
1 | 0 |
