Preview: Republic of Ireland vs. New Zealand - prediction, team news, lineups

Ireland lost 1-0 to Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying on Saturday, while New Zealand were beaten 2-0 by Greece.

Match preview

Although Rep Ireland performed relatively well to restrict Netherlands to only one goal at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, the defeat brought an end to a disastrous qualifying campaign for the Boys in Green.

Stephen Kenny's only victories from eight games came against Gibraltar, as they lost all six matches against France, Netherlands and Greece. It's the first time that Rep Ireland have failed to finish in the top three of a European Championship qualifying group since 1972.

Wout Weghorst's 11th minute strike proved the difference between the two sides, with the Oranje amassing 19 shots across the course of the encounter. While Kenny and his players will take confidence from their defensive discipline, the fact that they only registered one shot on target shows there is plenty of work to be done to improve in the final third.

Tuesday's friendly will be Kenny's 40th match in charge of his home nation, so the former Dundalk boss will be hoping to see his side cut loose against a team ranked 45 places beneath them in FIFA's latest world rankings.

Indeed, New Zealand's stock as a footballing nation has also fallen in recent times, with Darren Bazeley's side winning just one of their last 11 matches.

The All Whites failed to score for the eighth time during that run when falling to a 2-0 defeat to Greece in a friendly on Friday, with first half strikes from Giannis Konstantelias and Giorgos Giakoumakis proving enough for the home side to seal a comfortable win.

With Oceania's World Cup qualifying unlikely to begin until next September, Bazeley will be hoping to see his side's form improve before attempting to reach international football's biggest tournament for the third time in their history.

Although New Zealand will head to Rep Ireland as underdogs, Bazeley and his players may sense an opportunity to return to winning ways and inflict more misery on their opponents at the Aviva Stadium.

Republic of Ireland friendly form:

W

Republic of Ireland form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

W

L

New Zealand friendly form:

W

L

W

D

L

L

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Team News

Kenny could make several changes in order to provide some players with an opportunity to impress him, with the likes of Troy Parrott and Adam Idah hoping to start in attack.

Brighton & Hove Albion forward Evan Ferguson could be rested given his niggling injury issues so far this season, but Matt Doherty could keep his place having barely featured since returning to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer.

New Zealand, meanwhile, could rest their record goalscorer Chris Wood after his recent hamstring injury. The Nottingham Forest striker was a surprise inclusion in the All Whites' starting XI in Greece.

Plymouth Argyle forward Ben Waine may replace the 31-year-old in attack, with Shrewsbury Town striker Max Mata providing another option for Bazeley to turn to as he attempts to solve his side's recent woes in front of goal.

Republic of Ireland possible starting lineup:

Bazunu; O'Shea, Collins, Scales; Doherty, Molumby, Cullen, Manning; Parrott, Robinson; Idah

New Zealand possible starting lineup:

Woud; Bindon, Smith, Cacace; Singh, Stamenic, Payne, Garbett, Bell; Waine, Just

We say: Republic of Ireland 1-0 New Zealand

Neither side will head into this match with much confidence having struggled in recent times, but Rep Ireland will sense an opportunity to impress their home fans on Tuesday.

New Zealand are incredibly goal-shy and if Wood is rested as expected given his recent injury, Rep Ireland should have enough to narrowly return to winning ways.

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