Italy first opponents for Eileen Gleeson’s Ireland side for 2024

Ireland line up ahead of their UEFA Nations League game against Albania in October 2023

Ireland line up ahead of their UEFA Nations League game against Albania in October 2023 Credit: Conor Ryan (ETPhotos)

The Republic of Ireland women’s side are set to face Italy in a friendly in Florence on Friday 23 February.

The game will take place ahead of the home match against Cymru the following Tuesday.

This will be the seventh time Ireland have played Le Azzurre, with the fixture coming in the middle of a nine-day camp that includes the game in Tallaght Stadium against Wales.

Italy are 14th in the FIFA rankings and finished second in their UEFA Nations League group, behind World Champions Spain, having, like Ireland, competed at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The game will be played in Viola Park - the home base for ACF Fiorentina.

This will be Gleeson’s first fixture as permanent manager of the Girls in Green having won six out of six in the UEFA Nations League as interim boss.

The matches against Italy and Wales for part of her preparations for the UEFA EURO 2025 Qualifiers, which kick off in April. The qualification draw is due to take place on 5 March.

 

 

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile