Ireland arrange Latvia friendly

The Republic of Ireland will play Latvia in a friendly next month as they effectively begin their preparations for the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

They will face the Latvians at the Aviva Stadium on November 15, four days before heading to Poznan to take on Poland.

The Republic are currently in the process of identifying a new permanent manager following Giovanni Trapattoni’s departure in September.

Under-21s boss Noel King took charge of the final two World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Kazakhstan earlier this month.

Martin O’Neill remains the preferred candidate, although Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane are understood to be serious contenders.