The final international window of 2024 is upon us, and Ireland have the chance to finish the year on a high with Thursday's crunch game against Finland.
Last month saw Ireland come from behind to snatch a memorable 2-1 win away from home against Thursday's opposition, with Robbie Brady's last-gasp winner breathing life into the Heimir Hallgrímsson era.
Though those remain the only points Ireland have on the board thus far in this Nations League campaign, they can guarantee they will avoid automatic relegation to League C with victory over the Finns on Thursday.
Hallgrímsson has the pleasant problem of having several players in impressive club form, making this selection trickier than might initially be expected. We've selected the starting XI that we think has the best chance of getting Ireland a massive result against Finland on Thursday.
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The Ireland team Heimir Hallgrímsson should pick for Finland rematch
Formation: 4-2-3-1
The formation that Hallgrímsson opted for in Helsinki and stuck with for the trip to Athens three days later showed signs of clicking with this Ireland team.
Our selections afford the flexibility to drop players back as wing-backs - or push others up as a second striker - allowing for potential in-game shifts to either 5-2-3 or 4-4-2.
GK: Caoimhín Kelleher
12 November 2024; Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Despite his costly late error in Athens, Caoimhín Kelleher was still the best Irish player on the pitch across the course of the 90 minutes, as he has been so often over the last year.
There is no doubt that Kelleher will start on Thursday, after a string of impressive performances while standing in for Alisson at Liverpool.
LB: Callum O'Dowda
10 September 2024; Callum O’Dowda of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match between Republic of Ireland and Greece at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Would have been in contention to start the return fixture last month before being forced out of the camp late in the day due to injury.
With the hero of Helsinki Robbie Brady now himself out through injury, O'Dowda now seems primed to step into his boots at left-back. O'Dowda has been one of the few consistent performers in a poor season thus far for Cardiff, and contributed both a goal and an assist to their much-needed win over Norwich last week.
His familiarity with the Irish setup should see him favoured to Ryan Manning, who is in solid form with Southampton in the Championship.
CB: Liam Scales
Liam Scales has earned widespread plaudits for his defensive efforts for Celtic thus far this season, as the Hoops have enjoyed their best Champions League campaign in over a decade thus far.
The star man of their brilliant draw at Atalanta late last month, Scales was also impressive in both of October's games - including getting his first Ireland goal in the away game against Finland. A lock in the team.
CB: Nathan Collins
Another lock alongside Scales and, like Kelleher, a player who should be in the team despite a shocking error in the last window.
Nathan Collins will want to forget the game in Helsinki but, as a consistent Premier League starter for the impressive Brentford, his place in the Ireland team should not be in doubt.
RB: Dara O'Shea
With Scales and Collins flying, it is a shame that Dara O'Shea needs to be pushed out to right-back to be accommodated. However, the Ipswich Town man proved his worth in the position even in defeat against Greece, and it's hard to make a case for leaving him on the bench.
Having three regular Premier League or Champions League starters in the back four is a hugely encouraging boost for Heimir Hallgrímsson.
CM: Josh Cullen
13 October 2024; Josh Cullen of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match between Greece and Republic of Ireland at Georgios Karaiskakis Football Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Josh Cullen was impressive in dictating the play as Ireland turned the tide in the second half in Helsinki, and his place in midfield is all but assured.
The most capable Ireland midfielder at breaking up the play and stifling the opposition, Cullen is another lock in this team.
CM: Jason Knight
The rest of the midfield is somewhat up for grabs but, based on performances under Hallgrímsson thus far, Jason Knight deserves to hold on to his spot in midfield.
He was one of the few who displayed some grit and desire in the disastrous first window, while he and Cullen's partnership was encouraging to watch last month, particularly against Finland. He also offers more potential in attack than Jayson Molumby.
LM: Sammie Szmodics
Sammie 💚pic.twitter.com/gGYytykk3k
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) November 10, 2024
This author has openly questioned whether Ireland are getting the best of Sammie Szmodics down the left, with the 28-year-old going eight games without a goal or assist since his debut earlier this year.
However, he has finally clicked into life in the role for Ipswich in recent weeks, and he and the Tractor Boys finally saw their efforts rewarded with a sensational 2-1 win at Spurs on Sunday. Though Szmodics' overhead kick for the opener grabbed the headlines, his role in bursting through down the left flank for Liam Delap's goal was arguably even more encouraging from an Irish perspective.
If O'Dowda can release him down the left in the same way Leif Davies has started to at club level, Ireland may finally be able to unlock Sammie Szmodics.
CAM: Finn Azaz
👌 Curled in beautifully!#EFL | @Boro pic.twitter.com/kKHwZONNjP
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) November 9, 2024
Finn Azaz started in Helsinki and, though he was withdrawn before the comeback was completed, his energetic pressing helped the Ireland team settle after Finland's disastrous opener.
He has been in firing form for Middlesbrough in the Championship, contributing three goals and three assists in his last five Championship games.
He has earned himself a shot from the start in the Aviva on Thursday night and, if he can click with his fellow attackers in the way that he has at club level of late, we can hope for some bright play from the Ireland side.
RM: Festy Ebosele
When the Ireland squad was announced, it was hard not to find your eyes drawn to the name 'Festy Ebosele' listed under 'forwards.'
Though it is unlikely we will see Ebosele pushed as far forward as right-wing, it is not unreasonable to think he will start in the role usually occupied by Chiedozie Ogbene under Hallgrímsson thus far. He is the prime candidate to fill Ogbene's boots, and showed his attacking chops with his wonderful assist for Robbie Brady in Helsinki.
He deserves to get a chance from the start at last. Can drop back to RWB if Ireland end up requiring the stability of a back-five.
ST: Evan Ferguson
A tough call, but we're sticking with Evan Ferguson up front. The partnership with himself and Troy Parrott up front deserves to be revisited in future but there were enough encouraging signs from his performance linking up with Szmodics in Helsinki to stick with him in this team.
He has also showed bright signs in recent games for Brighton, scoring against Wolves and pushing for more regular opportunities. Deserves the faith for now.
Our Ireland team v Finland in full
With an encouraging amount of in-form Premier League players, and two who have been regulars in the Champions League so far this season, there is every reason to believe this Ireland team can get another big result against Finland on Thursday.
SEE ALSO: Sammie Szmodics Celebrated Great Ipswich Goal And Win With Ed Sheeran
