No Haaland for Norway as Kenny looks for results – Republic talking points
Ireland face France in March as their Euro 2024 campaign gets under way.
Stephen Kenny and his Republic of Ireland players head into Thursday night’s friendly against Norway looking to give themselves a platform for their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
They do so having ended a disappointing Nations League campaign by beating Armenia in September to avoid relegation from League B.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the talking points surrounding the game.
Points make prizes
Keeping it real
Fergie time?
Striking the balance
Ireland’s last game ended in unnecessary last-gasp drama as they were made to pay for relaxing. Goals from John Egan and Obafemi appeared to have eased them to a comfortable Nations League victory over Armenia when Artak Dashyan and Eduard Spertsyan struck within two minutes of each other, and it took a stoppage-time penalty from Robbie Brady after both Hovhannes Hambardzumyan and Dashyan had been sent off to secure the points. Kenny’s men cannot afford any repeat of that carelessness if they are to prosper against the Norwegians, who are ranked 42nd by FIFA, seven places higher than the Republic.
Far from Haal or nothing
