Rep of Ireland can enjoy Swiss delight in home friendly meeting

Hendrick, Keane, Walters blow for O’Neill

After such a gallant qualifying campaign, the Boys in Green are aiming to gain some momentum as a squad ahead of the main event in June, with the Swiss clash a great opportunity to prepare for what looks like a tough Group E, featuring Belgium, Italy and Sweden.

Key midfielder Jeff Hendrick will be an absentee for O’Neill, as he returned to Derby County for treatment on a troublesome shoulder injury, while recently crowned FAI Senior International Player of the Year Jonathan Walters could miss out too with a hamstring problem. Though he is 11/2 to net last if fit.

Skipper Robbie Keane sat out of training ahead of this home encounter and O’Neill confirmed the country’s all-time scorer will not be fit to feature, but may make the following Slovakia meeting.

O’Neill focused on Euro preparations

Having so far impressed in the Ireland hotseat, alongside assistant Roy Keane, O’Neill’s future has come under speculation, but the Derry-born boss was quick to avoid any such contract talk, instead focusing on preparations.

“Loads of things can happen between now and then and there’s no point in turning around and telling you that there’s an absolute degree of certainty about anything,” stated the 64-year-old.

“What we want to do is not only try to enjoy the Euros if it’s at all possible, but also try to make some sort of progress there as well, so we will see how things go. But who knows?”

Southampton striker Shane Long could be set to lead the line from the start and is 11/2 to open proceedings, having been awarded FAI International Goal of the Year for his memorable match-winning strike against world champions Germany, while Daryl Murphy is 6/4 to dispatch.

Swiss possess attacking threats

The visiting side were impressive in qualifying for Euro 2016, finishing seven points clear of Slovenia and winning seven of their 10 Group E outings, and they possess plenty of attacking threat to the Irish rearguard.

Xherdan Shaqiri is the obvious forward danger, with the Stoke City wideman 15/8 to strike anytime, but the likes of John O’Shea, Richard Keogh and Seamus Coleman will also need to be alert for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Haris Seferovic (7/4 anytime) and teenage Basel talent Breel-Donald Embolo (15/8).

A share of the spoils is 2/1 to occur in Dublin, as the last two meetings having ended 0-0 and 1-1 respectively, with cult hero Clinton Morrison the last Ireland international to score in this fixture during that latter result in 2004.

Both the Irish and Switzerland will look to put on a strong showing and gain form and momentum in Dublin during this international break ahead of busy summer, when the two nations will hold high hopes of enjoying further success following encouraging respective qualifying outings.

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Coral’s top tip: Back Ireland Robbie Keane to score the game’s last goal on home soil.