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Martin O’Neill has named the Republic of Ireland side he feels stands the best chance of putting the Boys in Green back on top of their World Cup qualifying group this evening.
After Saturday’s poor 1-1 draw against Georgia in Tbilisi, many were calling for O’Neill to make changes to his starting eleven to avoid a repeat showing against a Serbian side who play largely with the same formation as last week’s opponents.
The big news from the Aviva is that Norwich playmaker Wes Hoolahan starts.
BREAKING: Wes Hoolahan starts for Ireland with Jon Walters captaining the side as Martin O’Neill names his team to face Serbia. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/08BOFePvhr
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) September 5, 2017
Hoolahan and David Meyler come into the starting lineup, replacing Glenn Whelan and Harry Arter in a midfield that is set to play in a markedly different manner to last week.
Ireland Subs: Westwood (GK), Elliot (GK), O’Shea, Keogh, Whelan, Horgan, Murphy, O’Dowda, K. Long, Hourihane, Hayes, Arter. #COYBIG
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) September 5, 2017
Ireland know that (realistically) only a win will do if they want to qualify from the group automatically. Anything less and they’ll almost certainly be battling it out with Wales in Cardiff next month for the runners-up spot – a place that might not even guarantee a playoff berth if they finish with fewer points than the second-placed sides in the other groups.
