Boys will be in green for Spain clash

UEFA have confirmed to the FAI that Ireland will be able to wear their green shirts for the game against Spain in Gdansk on June 14.

With the Spanish nominally drawn as the ‘home’ team in the PGE Arena, it was expected that Ireland would have to play in their away strip of white shirts and green shorts, not least because it has long been the practice of football’s international authorities to minimise any potential confusion for viewers still watching games in black and white television.

However, the Irish have now been told that they can go green against Spain’s red and, since they have already been drawn as the ‘home’ side in their opening game against Croatia in Poznan on June 10, it means the team will only have to switch to white shirts as the ‘away’ side for their final group match, against Italy, also in Poznan, on June 18.