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November 14 2024, 23:44 · Alex Lawes

England vs Ireland Preview: Team News & Prediction

England vs Ireland Preview: Team News & Prediction

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England will confirm automatic promotion to League A with a victory against Ireland at Wembley Stadium after wrestling back control of UEFA Nations League League B Group 1. 

Kick-off date/time: Sunday 17th November, 2024: UK – 5:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am

How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / US – FOX Sports

How to watch online: UK – ITVX / US – FOX Sports streaming platforms

England Preview: Carsley’s send off

The other day, England pulled off an extremely impressive performance against Greece in Athens with Lee Carsley putting together some good moves finished off with goals from Ollie Watkins and Curtis Jones either side of an Odysseas Vlachodimos own goal.

The Three Lions started their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign with back-to-back 2-0 victories against Ireland and Finland respectively but they were beaten 2-1 by Greece at Wembley Stadium during the October international break. 

Ireland Preview: Improved Irish

Over the summer, former Iceland and Jamaica boss Heimur Hallgrimsson was appointed Ireland boss and his reign began with a couple of poor performances against Greece and England during the September international break.

However, the boys in green have managed a couple of slender but much-needed victories against Finland either side of a loss to Finland to mean they have made sure they have avoided automatic relegation down to League C.

England Team News: Kane or Watkins

England captain Harry Kane criticised players for pulling out of the England squad but Ollie Watkins started ahead of him against Greece and, with a goal, seems unlikely to be dropped.

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Lewis, Walker, Guehi, Hall; Gallagher, Jones; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Watkins

UNAVAILABLE: Ramsdale (Injured), Colwill (Injured), Stones (Injured), Alexander-Arnold (Injured), Shaw (Injured), Rice (Injured), Mainoo (Injured), Palmer (Injured), Foden (Injured), Grealish (Injured), Saka (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Konsa (Injured)

Ireland Team News: Injury withdrawals

Experienced defensive duo Shane Duffy, of Norwich City, and Seamus Coleman, of Everton, withdrew from injury last week alongside former Celtic forward Adam Idah.

PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Kelleher; Doherty, Collins, Scales, O’Dowda; Ebosele, Cullen, Knight, Johnston; Szmodics, Ferguson

UNAVAILABLE: Duffy (Injured), Coleman (Injured), Idah (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: 

England vs Ireland Prediction

England will be expected to get on the front foot in what is Lee Carsley’s final game in charge before Thomas Tuchel takes over in January. The Three Lions showed their potential with a depleted squad the other night after lacklustre performances in October. Ireland will travel to Wembley looking for a repeat of Hallgrimsson’s best, an Iceland 2-1 win against England at UEFA EURO 2016. It is a very different Ireland than that Iceland, though, and a very different England, too. 

England vs Ireland Tip: England to win to nil