Ireland to host Iceland in friendly

Ireland will host Iceland in a friendly international at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, March 28 next year, four days after Martin O’Neill’s team play their first World Cup qualifier of 2017 against Wales at the same venue.

Just a few years ago, a visit by Iceland would hardly have set pulses racing but having, in their first appearance in the tournament, made the quarter-finals at Euro 2016 they have emerged as a team for neutrals the world over to cherish, ‘viking thunderclap’ and all.

And under new manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, Iceland have taken up where they left off in France, with two wins and a draw in their opening World Cup qualifiers taking them joint top of Group I on seven points with Croatia.

This will be Iceland’s fourth visit to Dublin and the first game between the sides since 1997 when the Irish won 4-2 in a World Cup qualifier in Reykjavik.

Ireland already have another friendly pencilled in for 2017 when they host Uruguay at Aviva Stadium on June 4.

Meanwhile, Shane Long has been ruled out Southampton’s game against Manchester City tomorrow having limped off in the 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan at the San Siro with a hamstring strain.

Early indications are that the Tipperary man could be back in action by the end of the month but, with Ireland’s World Cup game against Austria in Vienna just three weeks away on November 12, O’Neill will be anxiously awaiting further updates on the striker’s condition.