Republic of Ireland v Wales Team news & predictions

The game kicks off at 1945 GMT at the Aviva Stadium, live on Sky Sports 1.  

Republic of Ireland v Wales: Our prediction

1pt Wales to beat Republic Of Ireland at 23/10 - look a stronger team in confident mood and can cut the gap on their rivals 

Our David John writes... If Friday night’s game turns out to be as good as the build-up then it should make for fascinating viewing at the Aviva Stadium. 

Republic Of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane has been in sparkling form (as normal) with the media, confirming the hosts will not be happy to settle for a stalemate and protect their lead at the top of Group D while his views on how to cope with Gareth Bale hark back somewhat to his own days as a player.

In response, Wales manager Chris Coleman confirmed he won’t be listening to any of Keane’s ramblings, preferring to take heed of anything number one Martin O’Neill puts forward instead.

Spiky stuff indeed and the atmosphere in Dublin should be pretty electric as well.

Wales trail their hosts by four points while Serbia are currently sandwiched in between with only one team guaranteed a place in the finals.  

Eight of the nine best runner’s-up will then be cast into the maelstrom of a play-off so it is easy to see why this is such a pivotal fixture - the pair will meet again to round things off in early October.

Feelings will be running high too as Coleman returns to the city where his father was born – his ashes are scattered in the Liffey - while the tempestuous James McClean will be an emotional talisman for the home side following the sudden death this week of close friend and Derry City captain Ryan McBride at the age of just 27.

Both head coaches will be hoping neither side becomes too ramped up once they cross the whitewash but it is definitely an aspect of the game which can’t be ignored and McClean’s contribution fuelled by adrenalin will be interesting.

“If he plays on Friday like he trained today (Wednesday), I will be really happy,” Keane revealed with the West Brom winger set to wear Richard Keogh’s number five shirt as a mark of respect to McBride.       

It is easy to argue the case for McClean to deliver a telling performance with a goal, assist or even a Man of the Match display but the flipside is the situation could be all too much and manifests itself negatively with his career littered with examples where the red mist has descended.

Whichever way it goes, I can’t see him not being involved in game-changing incident somewhere along the line – good or bad.

Sticking on the theme of individuals, Bale is obviously the foundation around which the Welsh have built their phenomenal recent success that included a surprise run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

The one true world class talent on the field, he is still working his way back from ankle surgery that sidelined him for three months but got a full 90 minutes under his belt at the weekend as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao. 

A glowing report from his national manager too on a fact-finding trip to Spain last month suggests he is not far away from his best.

“He won’t be undercooked. He is ready,” Coleman said. “I watched him train in Madrid and he is a real specimen.”

You can understand then why Keane is so desperate to nullify his threat but I have come to the conclusion the Welsh team more than matches up here overall against their counterparts even on the road.

I just wonder whether the far greater expectations following last summer’s exploits has been weighing on their minds a little and contributed to slightly slower start to this qualification campaign than many might have expected.

However, they remain unbeaten to this point and the time looks right for them to start turning the experience gained from the Euros into victories with the obvious incentive of trimming the gap on the Republic at the top to a point while hopefully cutting Serbia off at the pass at the same time.

“We are feeling confident and have trained well all week,” said full-back Ben Davies.

 “We don’t want to say this is ‘must-win’ but we have been involved in a game of this magnitude before so we have that experience.”

I can’t entirely make my mind up how McClean is going to fare one way of the other so a bet on a familiar Wales line-up containing that bit of Bale magic seems the way to progress. 

The case is stronger considering the Republic are a little thin on the ground due to injuries and the lack of creative input with no Robbie Brady, Wes Hoolahan or even Harry Arter plus striking focal point Daryl Murphy leaves them rather vulnerable.

Prediction: Republic Of Ireland 0-1 Wales  

Republic of Ireland v Wales: Manager quotes

Martin O'Neill (Republic of Ireland)

On Wales: "Expectation is very, very high, not only in Wales itself. The expectation from within Europe itself is that Wales are very, very capable. They possess some excellent players in their side and obviously a world-class player in Gareth Bale.

"No, I don't think there's been any lull. Perhaps they might have thought they'd have won one of those matches.

"But the Georgia game, which they could easily have been beaten in, that was never going to easy at all. We had played them (Georgia) a few days earlier and Seamus (Coleman) got the goal to win the game, but they played brilliantly in the first half against us in the match, so the games are not easy.

"But are Wales suffering? I don't see that at all, I genuinely don't see that. Wales are capable of winning football matches home or away." 

Asked for an injury update at the start of the week, he said: "How long have you got? It's the lengthiest list of injuries that I have known since I have come into the job, and unfortunately it's happened at a really crucial time for us.

"However, other players will have to step up and just be ready for Friday. Do you know, I have often said this before, that you just curse your luck and get on with it.

"The irony of all of this here is that way back when Gareth Bale got injured in November-time, everybody was talking about Wales possibly having one of their major players out of the team, and it turns out that we are the ones who are doing the suffering.

"But it is what it is and we'll get on with it and we'll be ready to go on Friday." 

On the match: "Wales will not feel as if they're out of it at all by any stretch of the imagination. Their own experiences of the Euros will stand them in good stead.

"This game has come at a time when we've had to look at some of the major players being out, but we'll go with it with as much gusto as possible.

"Bale is an absolutely top-class player.

"He's into the world-class bracket. He has proved that, winning Champions League medals with Real Madrid. He left Tottenham, where he was a real star, and he has gone to prove himself with Real Madrid.

"He's a really fine player, there's no question about that. Wales have got some really fine players besides that who are playing at a big level and they are coming here relatively injury-free.

"It's a tough task. It would have been a tough task normally even if we were at full-strength. It's going to take an almighty effort to win this game." 

Chris Coleman (Wales)

On his reaction to Wales' defeat against England at Euro 2016: "It was a dry camp, we were together seven weeks. No alcohol. Staff or players.

"But I had a double whiskey by myself, a sneaky one, out on the balcony after that England game.

"As a manager you have to look at yourself and I thought I was preaching all the time, 'Don't get sucked into this game with England. It is one of three'.

"So I thought were my messages the wrong... 'too much fight, make sure we stand our ground'? I was devastated.

"Not because it was England, but we were at a tournament and we didn't show ourselves in the game.

"When we played against England we went 1-0 up and then we wished our life away, rather than just enjoying those moments.

"But these games come and go, and I think you forget sometimes that you're in it to enjoy it.

"Whatever Ireland have got planned, whichever way they play, that's up to them.

"We mustn't get drawn into that and do what we're good at. We can't miss the game.

"We did that against England, and we were disappointed because it was a British derby." 

On the World Cup qualifying campaign: "People look at us now in these first four games and we've won one and drawn three.

"But we've lost one campaign game in 16. That's the truth of the matter.

"Whatever happens against the Republic these players are at a great age, and their attitude and application is the best I've ever seen.

"They will go on and on and achieve long after I've gone.

"They're at a great age and very much together.

"Whatever pressure people put on them for this game is up to them, but I won't be doing that because I trust them.

"Why do I trust them? Because of what they're done, I'm not worried what we're up against.

 "You get written off today, built up tomorrow – but we're right in it.

"The Republic of Ireland know it, make no mistake about that.

"People say it's a must-win game for us, but I won't be saying that.

"We're not going into this game thinking it doesn't matters, of course it matters.

"But there are 18 points to play for and a long way to go.

"This is the fifth game in 10 and some of those games we've had good form.

"We've lost focus at times, but this time round it's different.

"We can hardly go under the radar now. We're seen as a scalp now and we have to deal with that."

On Roy Keane: "All I'll be listening to is (Republic manager) Martin O'Neill.

"If anybody out of the Ireland camp - Roy or the players - says anything my ears will be closed.

"But if Martin says something I'll pay attention to that as he's one of the managers I respect the most.

"He's a shrewd and intelligent man and he's done a great job with the Republic.

"We talk about our togetherness, but they've got it.

"If you look at the Republic they've probably had more gifted teams, but this is a together team who work for each other.

"That's down to Martin - and we need to match that." 

On Gareth Bale's return: "It's always a worry because when he got injured he was out for three months.

"Three months in football is a long time to be out and anything can happen.

"You can have a setback, but thankfully he didn't.

"I was out in Madrid last month and having a chat and watching him train put my mind to rest.

"He's an absolute specimen, a machine. He won't be undercooked. He's ready." 

On Ben Woodburn: "There won't be any knee-jerk reactions to cap him.

"If I thought it was too early for him I wouldn't have called him up.

"He's in there on merit - he's playing for Liverpool in the Premier League and every day he is training with international players. He has earned it." 

Republic of Ireland v Wales: Team news

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill is hoping to avoid another club versus country row with Everton as James McCarthy attempts to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Wales. 

McCarthy was included in a provisional 39-man squad for the Group D showdown with the Welsh on March 24 and the friendly against Iceland four days later when it was announced.

His was not the only notable inclusion in the squad, with Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot selected for the first time since suffering knee ligament damage on international duty almost a year ago.

Elliot was injured during the Republic's 2-2 friendly draw with Slovakia at the Aviva Stadium on March 29 last year and has not played a senior game since, although he has returned to the Magpies bench in recent weeks after a lengthy period of rehabilitation.

There were no places for injured pair Shane Duffy and Stephen Quinn, while Burnley midfielder Robbie Brady is suspended for the Wales game after collecting a second yellow card in the competition during the 1-0 victory in Austria which has left Ireland sitting two points clear of Serbia at the top of the group.

However, there were first senior call-ups for Reading midfielder Liam Kelly and Brentford defender John Egan, with the latter, who was on the books at Sunderland during O'Neill's spell in charge on Wearside, getting the nod amid doubts over the fitness over Ciaran Clark, Richard Keogh and Cyrus Christie in addition to Duffy's absence. 

Republic of Ireland squad: Colin Doyle (Bradford), Rob Elliot (Newcastle), Darren Randolph (West Ham), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday); Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce (Derby), Paul McShane (Reading), Andy Boyle (Preston), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle), John Egan (Brentford), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Matt Doherty (Wolves); Aiden McGeady, Daryl Horgan (Preston), Glenn Whelan (Stoke), James McCarthy (Everton), Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady (Burnley), David Meyler (Hull), Liam Kelly (Reading), Darron Gibson (Sunderland), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O'Kane (Leeds), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), Jonathan Hayes (Aberdeen), James McClean (West Brom; Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids), Shane Long (Southampton), David McGoldrick (Ipswich), Daryl Murphy (Newcastle), Adam Rooney (Aberdeen), Jonathan Walters (Stoke). 

Liverpool teenager Ben Woodburn has been called into the senior Wales squad for the first time for the clash with the Republic of Ireland.

Forward Woodburn would become one of the youngest players in Welsh history if manager Chris Coleman gives him a debut in Dublin.

Woodburn's Liverpool team-mate Harry Wilson holds that record, having made his debut at the age of 16 years and 207 days in 2013 to break Gareth Bale's previous mark.

The exciting Chester-born player has represented Wales at all youth levels, but his international future had been brought into question amid reports of interest from England manager Gareth Southgate.

But he has now been included in a 23-man party for the vital game at the Aviva Stadium in World Cup European qualifying Group D. 

Wales squad: Wayne Hennessy (Crystal Palace), Danny Ward (Liverpool), Owain Fon Williams (Inverness), Ben Davies (Tottenham), James Chester (Aston Villa), James Collins (West Ham), Joe Walsh (MK Dons), Chris Gunter (Reading), Jazz Richards (Cardiff), Neil Taylor (Aston Villa), Ashley Williams (Everton), Joe Allen (Stoke), David Edwards (Wolves), Andy King (Leicester), Tom Lawrence (Leicester), Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace), Shaun MacDonald (Wigan), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Hal Robson-Kanu (WBA), Tom Bradshaw (Barnsley), Sam Vokes (Burnley), Ben Woodburn (Liverpool). 

Republic of Ireland v Wales: Opta facts

Republic of Ireland are unbeaten in their last six internationals against Wales (W3 D3), keeping clean sheets in four of the last five encounters.

Although, these two nations haven’t met in a competitive fixture since Euro 2008 qualifying in 2007 with Ireland winning the home game 1-0 and drawing 2-2 in Cardiff.

Wales’ last win against the Republic of Ireland came in February 1992, thanks to a Mark Pembridge winner in a 1-0 victory in Dublin.

Republic of Ireland are unbeaten in their last 14 home Internationals at the Aviva Stadium (W9 D5).

In fact, Ireland have won each of their last four home qualifiers, their best run since September 1999 (four successive victories).

Wales have lost only one of their last seven qualifiers on the road (W3 D3), losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 2015, although they had already qualified for Euro 2016.

Jonathan Walters has scored six goals in his last seven home games for the Republic of Ireland, including four of their last six goals in qualifiers at the Aviva.

Gareth Bale has scored four goals in four World Cup qualifying matches so far, however all these goals have come in Cardiff.

The Welsh superstar has bagged 17 goals in his last 23 qualifiers for the Dragons and is now just two goals away from levelling with Ian Rush as Wales’ all-time top goalscorer (Rush has 28 goals).

Republic of Ireland v Wales: Sky Bet odds 

Group D leaders the Republic of Ireland go into the game as Sky Bet’s 6/4 favourites with Wales on offer at 23/10 and a draw 2/1. Real Madrid ace Gareth Bale is the undoubted star of the show and he is a 4/1 chance to open the scoring for the visitors in Dublin while his price to score from outside of the area has been boosted to 10/1 from 9/1. Jon Walters is 5/1 to break the deadlock for Ireland and the Stoke frontman can be backed at 14/1 (was 12/1) to score with a header.

Click for Sky Bet's Republic of Ireland v Wales odds!

Republic of Ireland v Wales: Latest stories

Republic of Ireland

Martin O'Neill wary of Wales
Fitness battle for James McCarthy

Wales

Chris Coleman confident
No suspension concerns - Ben Davies