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With just over a month to go until the Republic of Ireland’s opening Euro 2016 game against Sweden, manager Martin O’Neill has a few hard decisions to make.
He has named a 35-man squad for this month’s friendly against the Netherlands on May 28th, in what is essentially a provisional squad for the tournament, but some of that panel are destined to miss the cut in June.
O’Neill will have some degree of knowledge of how his final squad will look, however certain players ill have the opportunity to impress the manager and force their way into his plans.
Ireland welcome back a number of absentees from the side’s recent friendlies against Switzerland and Solvakia, with the likes of Jonathan Walters and Robbie Keane included once again. Marc Wilson also returns to the squad despite not having featured for Stoke City since late January.
Surprisingly, uncapped Oxford United midfielder Callum O’Dowda has received his first senior call-up, though the chances of him making the final squad are surely extremely slim.
Republic of Ireland Squad For International Friendly vs. Netherlands
[table id=54 /]The squad will be whittled down to 23 soon after the match against Danny Blind’s side – who caused a massive shock by failing to qualify for the tournament – before the finalised group will head to a training camp at Fota Island in Cork, wherein they will face Belarus in a friendly on May 31st before travelling to France.
