Ireland will conclude their Euro 2024 qualifying group this weekend, travelling to take on the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Saturday evening.
Stephen Kenny's side are out of contention in the group, while their chances of reaching a play-off via their UEFA Nations League campaign are all but over. As well as that, it seems likely that the current international window will be the final one for the current manager.
As a result, it will be interesting to see what sort of team will be selected for this game. Will Kenny go with a tried and tested XI, or will he throw caution to the wind and make a couple of surprise inclusions?
Injuries will play a part. Both Will Smallbone and Festy Ebosele have already been ruled out, while question marks remain over the fitness of Evan Ferguson, Chiedozie Ogbene, and Jamie McGrath.
With all of that in mind, here is the Ireland team we would pick for the game against the Netherlands as things stand.
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The Ireland team we want to see against the Netherlands
GK: Gavin Bazunu
After a poor start to the season, Gavin Bazunu has found his form for Southampton once again in recent weeks. He has also largely impressed throughout this qualifying campaign despite the poor results.
With Caoimhín Kelleher struggling for both playing time and form at Liverpool, Bazunu remains relatively unchallenged as Ireland's no. 1.
RB: Matt Doherty
We would have loved to see Festy Ebsoele start in this position had he been available, but after the Udinese man was ruled out due to injury, it is all but certain that Matt Doherty will play at right back once again in this game.
The Wolves man had been a bit part player at club level this season, while he has also struggled at times during recent appearances for Ireland. In saying that, there is no doubt that he can still be a valuable contributor to the side when he in in form.
CB: Nathan Collins
The decision to return Shane Duffy to the Ireland team has been a puzzling and largely unsuccessful one. The Derry man deserves credit for rediscovering his form at Norwich City, although it was odd to see him drafted straight back into the side since September ahead of the other options available.
Nathan Collins played only 45 minutes during the last international window, although there is no doubt in our mind that he remains Ireland's best centre back.
He simply has to return to the side for this game.
CB: Dara O'Shea
Dara O'Shea has struggled at times for Burnley, but we would be keen to see how he fared alongside Nathan Collins in this game. Those two have previously shined alongside each other for Ireland, although that usually came as part of a three-man defence.
It would be intriguing to see how they looked as a pair, especially when you consider that they seem like the most likely candidates to be the long-term starters in those positions.
A fixture in the Netherlands would certainly provide quite the litmus test for that theory.
LB: Liam Scales
Liam Scales has mainly played at centre back for Celtic this season, although he is more than capable of playing on the left of the defence. With the Dutch set to provide plenty of attacking threat on Saturday, it might be wise to deploy a more defensive player such as the Wicklow man in that position.
Scales has been absolutely phenomenal at club level in recent months, going from squad player to key contributor at Parkhead. He also impressed for Ireland last month after making his international debut against Greece.
He certainly deserves to retain his place in the side for this fixture.
CM: Josh Cullen
Josh Cullen has found the going rather tough after his return to the Premier League with Burnley this season, finding himself taken out the side on a few occasions as the team continues to struggle.
In saying that, there is no doubting his status as an automatic starter for Ireland. He has been the team's most consistent midfielder over the last couple of years, even if he has not quite hit the heights that he is capable of at international level in 2023.
CM: Jason Knight
Jason Knight's versatility is a huge asset in the Ireland squad, and having played out wide in some of their recent games, we would like to see him in a more central role for this game.
Knight provides the same energy as Jayson Molumby out of possession, although with a bit of added quality on the ball. He has not often played in a deeper midfield role at international level, but he should have the ability to do so in this fixture.
CM: Andrew Moran
Why not throw him straight in at the deep end?
Andrew Moran was only called up to the Ireland squad for the first time in recent days, but his form this season would more than justify the decision to start him against the Netherlands.
The midfielder has been in sensational form while on loan at Blackburn Rovers, scoring four goals and providing six assists in all competitions. He provides the type of creativity that few other players in the Ireland squad can provide.
With Moran likely to be part of the Ireland side for the next decade, it might be wise to bed him in as soon as possible.
RW: Chiedozie Ogbene
Chiedozie Ogbene has been a fitness concern for this game, but having travelled with the squad to Amsterdam, we are assuming he is fit to play.
The Luton Town man has been in exceptional form at club level in recent weeks, most notably in the recent game against Liverpool at Kenilworth Road. He provided plenty of problems down the right flank for the Dutch in the previous meeting between the sides, with his pace on the counterattack likely to be a key aspect of Ireland's tactical approach to this fixture.
It would be a major blow were he to be ruled out of this one.
ST: Evan Ferguson
Evan Ferguson is in a similar situation to Ogbene, meaning we are also assuming he will be available for selection. He is an automatic starter if he is fit and has already shown that he is capable of scoring goals at the highest level.
Having missed the first meeting between these two sides due to injury, he will be keen to test himself against the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt in a big international fixture.
The Ireland team suddenly becomes a lot more dangerous in attack if he is present in the starting XI.
LW: Mikey Johnston
Mikey Johnston's lack of club football this season is a concern, although he has shown in previous international windows that that does not affect his form for Ireland.
If he has enough in the legs to give an hour in Amsterdam, he has to start. His creativity out wide is something that not many other players in the squad possess and could prove key if Ireland are to secure an unlikely result.
The Team In Full
This team could look very different to the one that takes to the pitch against the Netherlands on Saturday evening, with fitness doubts still lingering over the likes of Evan Ferguson and Chiedozie Ogbene.
Adam Idah would likely come into the side if Ferguson was unavailable, while Jason Knight could play on the right in the absence of Ogbene, with Alan Browne or Jayson Molumby stepping into the midfield.
In any case, it is going to take a top class performance from Ireland if they are to get anything from the game and end their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign on a high.
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