WORLD CUP 2026 QUALIFYING GROUP F
Republic of Ireland v Armenia, Tuesday 14 October, 7.45pm, Aviva Stadium.
TV
Live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7pm.
RADIO
Live commentary on RTÉ 2fm (an extended Game On programme) from 7pm.
ONLINE
Live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app.
WEATHER
It'll be overcast in Dublin, mostly dry with a few patches of light rain. Temperatures will hover around the mid-teens and there'll be a moderate breeze.
SOME HONOUR RESTORED - NOW FOR THE TRICKY BIT
The Republic of Ireland were absolutely dreadful against Armenia in Yerevan last month. It was a limp, toothless performance and they got what they deserved, slumping to a 2-1 loss that led to a serious post-mortem.
"It was, hopefully, a one-off in Armenia," Heimir Hallgrimsson said once the dust settled.
"We've had a project on our hands and were feeling really good about it until Armenia. Should we make one game affect what we are doing and how we are working? Absolutely not. We will continue to have belief in the squad and continue with our work."
A few players redeemed themselves in Saturday night's defeat to Portugal in Lisbon, where Ireland showed a spirit and togetherness that was sorely lacking in Yerevan.
Ruben Neves shattered the resistance in the 91st minute, and once the pain subsided, Irish minds swiftly turned to this rematch with the Armenians.
This is a huge game for Hallgrimsson. Anything less than three points and there'll be intense speculation about his future.
He says he's confident of getting a win which would keep Ireland's hopes of achieving a top-two finish alive, but there's genuine pressure on his side to be proactive and break down the stubborn and motivated visitors. There's not been a heap of evidence to suggest this group of players are capable of doing that - not when it really matters.
Lisbon was a rearguard action; tomorrow night, the onus will be on the Boys in Green to take the contest by the scruff of the neck and find a way to win.
"The result is the only thing that matters tomorrow," said the boss on Monday. "However we do it, I would take a sh**ty game and win 1-0. Yeah, this is a result game, 100%."
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OF ARMENIA?
Ranked 103rd in the world, the win against Ireland was a massive moment for Armenia. This is a team that had conceded 18 goals in their previous four games, capitulating against Portugal (5-0), Kosovo (5-2) and Georgia (6-1).
In August, they sacked Dutch coach John van't Schip - who was only at the helm for four games - and brought in Yeghishe Melikyan. That decision has already been vindicated. Yes, they were hammered by the Portuguese in Melikyan's first match at the helm but Armenia then stunned Ireland, before acquitting themselves well in Hungary, creating some good chances in a 2-0 loss.
Melikyan has made them harder to play against, and Armenia will head to the Aviva really believing they can do another number on Ireland as they aim to keep their own hopes alive of finishing second in the group.
If they nab a shock victory, it'll be just the second time ever that Armenia have won home and away against an opponent in a World Cup qualifying campaign. They did the double on Andorra during qualification for the 2006 World Cup.
"We need to forget this match and move forward," Melikyan said after the Hungary result.
"Of course, there were problems in our game - otherwise, we wouldn't have lost. We’ll analyse everything and work on our mistakes. There were errors, but we’ll definitely work to fix them."
TEAM NEWS
Charlton Athletic's Conor Coventry came into the squad on Sunday to replace Josh Cullen, who's suspended.
Liam Scales missed the trip Portugal following a family bereavement, and remains absent. That means QPR defender Jimmy Dunne sticks around as cover.
Bar that, everyone has come out of Saturday's exertions in good nick, so Hallgrimsson has some decisions to make.
He acknowledged Ireland's tendency to perform poorly in the second game of these double-headers, while hinting at some changes to his starting XI.
"I've said it myself, this has been a trend, playing worse in the second game.
"And we as coaches want to find whatever we can do to change it. So the load and recovery from game one to game two, that's one thing we've been focusing on.
"Another thing, rotation of players. So we managed to do substitutions last game, it was a tough game. So we managed to do substitutions maybe earlier than we would have, knowing this fact."
Troy Parrott replaced Evan Ferguson after 78 minutes in Lisbon but might partner the Roma striker from the get-go tomorrow. Adam Idah was a frustrated unused sub and will hope for some involvement at Lansdowne Road.
Seamus Coleman was fantastic on Saturday; maybe some feared he'd be rusty having played so few minutes at Everton this season, but instead the 37-year-old Donegal man was fresh and fearless.
He'll surely go again for this one, with Will Smallbone in line to replace Cullen in the engine room.
Watch Republic of Ireland v Armenia in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live radio commentary on an extended Game On programme on RTÉ 2fm.
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