The Republic of Ireland will play host to Wales in the inaugural Carling Nations Cup game on Tuesday.
The game will be played at the newly built Aviva Stadium, and is the first senior international tournament to be hosted in Ireland.
The Nations Cup is a new tournament, and will be played in a league format with all teams playing each other once. After the Republic of Ireland and Wales go head to head on Tuesday, Northern Ireland and Scotland will clash at the same venue on Wednesday.
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni outlined his team’s ambition when the tournament was unveiled. “The Carling Nations Cup is a competition that we would very much like to win,” said the Italian.
The Republic manager also outlined his excitement for the tournament when speaking to BBC Sport ahead of the Wales game. “This competition provides our players with familiar and tough opponents, and the added competitive edge to the tournament is the perfect preparation for the Euro qualifying campaign,” Trapattoni told BBC Sport.
Trappatoni will be going up against Gary Speed, who is taking charge of his first game as Wales manager in the Nations Cup opener.
Ireland’s star striker Robbie Keane pulled out of the game after suffering a calf injury on Sunday. Stoke City striker Jonathan Walters is drafted in and will partner Kevin Doyle in attack.
Everton’s impressive youngster Seamus Coleman will be making his Republic of Ireland debut against Wales, as will Ciaran Clark of Aston Villa.
Leon Best is sidelined for the Republic with a hamstring injury, while Liam Lawrence is ruled out with a calf problem.
Aston Villa defender James Collins will be named Wales captain in their first game under Speed, Collins will be paired in central defense with Swansea City defender Ashley Williams.
Wales have suffered from a number of high profile injury withdrawals. Craig Bellamy, Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey will all be unavailable for this game.
Striker Robert Earnshaw is in good form for Championship club Nottingham Forest, and is likely to feature in the Welsh attack.
The Nations Cup is a new tournament, and will be played in a league format with all teams playing each other once. After the Republic of Ireland and Wales go head to head on Tuesday, Northern Ireland and Scotland will clash at the same venue on Wednesday.
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni outlined his team’s ambition when the tournament was unveiled. “The Carling Nations Cup is a competition that we would very much like to win,” said the Italian.
The Republic manager also outlined his excitement for the tournament when speaking to BBC Sport ahead of the Wales game. “This competition provides our players with familiar and tough opponents, and the added competitive edge to the tournament is the perfect preparation for the Euro qualifying campaign,” Trapattoni told BBC Sport.
Trappatoni will be going up against Gary Speed, who is taking charge of his first game as Wales manager in the Nations Cup opener.
Ireland’s star striker Robbie Keane pulled out of the game after suffering a calf injury on Sunday. Stoke City striker Jonathan Walters is drafted in and will partner Kevin Doyle in attack.
Everton’s impressive youngster Seamus Coleman will be making his Republic of Ireland debut against Wales, as will Ciaran Clark of Aston Villa.
Leon Best is sidelined for the Republic with a hamstring injury, while Liam Lawrence is ruled out with a calf problem.
Aston Villa defender James Collins will be named Wales captain in their first game under Speed, Collins will be paired in central defense with Swansea City defender Ashley Williams.
Wales have suffered from a number of high profile injury withdrawals. Craig Bellamy, Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey will all be unavailable for this game.
Striker Robert Earnshaw is in good form for Championship club Nottingham Forest, and is likely to feature in the Welsh attack.
