Ireland v Brazil
Today 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1
They might be still managerless but Ireland hope to give the impression of being far from rudderless when they take on Brazil in a friendly at Croke Park this evening (Russell Kempson writes). Robbie Keane, their captain, issued a rallying call yesterday that suggested that Brazil, without many of their leading players, will receive a traditional Irish welcome.
“Kick them? I am sure we will,” Keane said. “But I’m sure we’ll kick the ball at the same time. They can’t expect to come here and we’ll let them keep the ball for 90 minutes. We’re going to be in their faces like we are with anyone.”
Gilberto Silva, the Brazil captain, said: “Some think that, because they have not got a manager, it will be easy for us. We don’t think like that. They have their pride, as we have ours. It will be a difficult game.”
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Ireland (4-4-2): S Given – S Kelly, J O’Shea, R Dunne, K Kilbane – A McGeady, L Miller, L Carsley, D Duff – R Keane, K Doyle.
Brazil (possible; 4-1-3-2): Julio C?sar – Leonardo Moura, Alex, Luisão, Marcelo – Gilberto Silva – Josu?, Diego, Anderson – LuÍs Fabiano, Robinho. Referee: R Rogalla (Switzerland).
Northern Ireland v Bulgaria
Today 7.45pm, BBC Northern Ireland
Nigel Worthington believes that David Healy will not be able to replicate his outstanding form for Northern Ireland in the Barclays Premier League for Fulham until the striker is given a sustained run of games (James Ducker writes).
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Healy, who will be hoping to add to his remarkable tally of 33 goals in 62 appearances for Northern Ireland in the friendly against Bulgaria at Windsor Park tonight, has made only 12 league starts for Fulham since arriving from Leeds United last summer. “He needs to be given the confidence to go and perform and that will only come through playing games week in and week out and not playing 20 minutes here, an hour there and coming off,” Worthington said. Northern Ireland (probable; 4-4-2): M Taylor – G McAuley, A Hughes, J Evans, G McCartney – K Gillespie, S Clingan, D Johnson, C Brunt – D Healy, K Lafferty. Bulgaria (possible; 4-4-2): D Ivankov – A Tunchev, V Iliev, I Tomasic, L Wagner – C Yankov, B Georgiev, V Dimitrov, M Petrov – D Berbatov, Z Lazarov. Referee: D McDonald (Scotland).
Wales v Norway
Today 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2
Wales are expected to field only four players from the Barclays Premier League, two fewer than Norway, their opponents in a friendly tonight (Gary Jacob writes). John Toshack, the Wales manager, said that he envisages positive results to come in the World Cup qualifying campaign that begins in September.
After an encouraging draw away to Germany in November, it will be an interesting test on a cowpat of a pitch at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham.
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Simon Davies, the Fulham midfield player, will be captain in the absence of Craig Bellamy. “Germany has given us a lot of confidence but we have to reproduce it,” Davies said. “We need to try and get the momentum so by September we are in the best shape possible.” Wales (probable; 3-5-1-1): W Hennessey – C Morgan, S Evans, L Nyatanga – C Gunter, S Davies, D Edwards, C Fletcher, S Ricketts – J Koumas – F Eastwood. Norway (possible; 4-4-2): H Opdal – J A Storbaek, B Hangeland, P M Kah, J A Riise – D Braaten, C Grindheim, M Andresen, M G Pedersen – J Carew, E Nevland. Referee: D McKeon (Ireland).