Stephen Kenny has named his team for Ireland's huge Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium.
Evan Ferguson is still out through injury, while late call-up Jonathan Afolabi was left out of the matchday squad earlier on Sunday, along with Enda Stevens, Darragh Lenihan, Will Keane and Mark Travers.
Kenny has made two changes to the starting XI that lost 2-0 away to France on Thursday night, with Matt Doherty, and James McClean come in in place of Enda Stevens and Jayson Molumby.
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Ireland team named for qualifier against the Netherlands
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗫𝗜 | Ireland v Netherlands
Matt Doherty & James McClean come into the starting line-up as Alan Browne shifts into midfield with an unchanged front-three 🇮🇪
Huge night at the Aviva, get behind the team, 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 💚 pic.twitter.com/ljcEb2LaAr
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 10, 2023
Defeat for Ireland against the Dutch will leave them with no more than a minuscule chance of qualifying for Euro 2024, as that scenario would see Kenny's side would remain on three points, with Ronald Koeman's men on nine.
It can be assumed that Greece will also be on nine points by the end of Sunday evening, as they host group minnows Gibraltar in Athens.
Ireland's remaining games after Sunday are at home to Greece (October 13th), away to Gibraltar (October 16th) and away to the Netherlands (November 18th).
Netherlands XI v ROI
Flekken, Dumfries, Blind, Ake, Van Dijk, De Ligt, Wieffer, De Jong, Simons, Gakpo, Malen
— Dutch Football 🇳🇱 (@FootballOranje_) September 10, 2023
The visit of the Netherlands will bring back positive memories of 1-0 win for Ireland in September 2001, en route to qualification for the 2002 World Cup.
That Ireland team was full of Premier League talent though, and a win this time around would be even more of a surprise.
"We know a victory is important for us," said Kenny at his pre-match press conference on Saturday.
"We'll prepare as well as we can after just coming back on Thursday night, make sure we're ready. The players are clear on how we're going to play and we'll certainly be tested against this team.
"We'll have to match them, and we are capable of doing that, and we have to show the belief and conviction to try and get the win that we need."
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