Dutch test for Ireland

The Republic of Ireland will play Holland in a friendly international in preparation for the World Cup 2006 qualifiers.

The Dutch game will take place in Amsterdam on June 5, following friendly fixtures against the Czech Republic this month, April next month and Romania on May 27.

Ireland will take on Holland in 2006 at home, as part of the agreement, and Ireland boss Brian Kerr added: “Holland are one of the top teams in the world and it’s great to have this game as we prepare for the World Cup qualifying matches in the autumn.

“We need to test ourselves away from home and they don’t come much tougher than Holland in Amsterdam."

The game will be the first clash between the two sides since Jason McAteer gave Ireland a famous 1-0 victory at Lansdowne Road in September 2001 to put the Boys in Green firmly on the road to the 2002 World Cup.

Earlier in the 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign, Ireland visited the Amsterdam Arena earning an important 2-2 draw though historically, Holland have had the upper hand winning eight of their 17 meetings – Ireland have won six - including victories which knocked Ireland out of Euro 1988 and the 1994 World Cup.