The Republic of Ireland embark upon a face-saving mission in Faro on Monday evening when they attempt to secure just a second Euro 2024 qualifier victory at the seventh time of asking.
Anything but a comfortable win over Group B minnows Gibraltar, the only team Stephen Kenny’s men have beaten to date during a desperately disappointing campaign, would invite derision with automatic qualification gone and a play-off place an unlikely source of salvation.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points surrounding the game at the Estadio Algarve.
The end is nigh
So near, so Faro
Fergie time?
Winging it
No points, no goals
? Inside Gibraltar’s MD-1 preparations at the Estádio Algarve ahead of tomorrow’s @EURO2024 Qualifier vs Ireland ??
?️ Tickets are available from https://t.co/TxNo0Rlbpg ‼️ pic.twitter.com/Phr56S5PAn
— Gibraltar FA (@GibraltarFA) October 15, 2023
In many respects, Ireland could not have chosen a better opponent for a game they simply have to win. Gibraltar have lost their last seven – a run culminating in Wednesday night’s 4-0 friendly defeat in Wales – without scoring and have conceded a total of 17 goals and collected no points in their five Group B fixtures to date. They last found the back of the net in a 1-0 friendly victory over Andorra in November.
