England vs Republic of Ireland Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

England's men's national team host their Republic of Ireland counterparts in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Thursday evening.

This hastily arranged fixture, with England's opponents initially scheduled to be New Zealand, comes just three days before each side plays the first of two Nations League matches held over the next week. England travel to Belgium before a game which may or may not take place against Iceland with their Nations League group delicately poised.

Ireland, on the other hand, have no chance of finishing any higher than third in their group and perhaps will divert more focus on securing a first win for their manager Stephen Kenny at the famous setting of Wembley.

Where to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Thursday 12 November
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:00 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Wembley Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? ITV

Team News

If England can absorb an injury in any position it is undoubtedly right-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up a knock against Manchester City at the weekend and the Liverpool defender is set to not only miss November's internationals, but could be ruled out for as long as four weeks.

James Ward-Prowse has also pulled out through injury, with Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham called up as his replacement.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is a doubt with a shoulder injury but has joined up with England's squad. Manager Gareth Southgate made numerous changes for England's friendly against Wales last month and may adhere to the same policy of rotation with Belgium on the horizon.

Kenny has been able to offer a warm welcome to Everton full-back Seamus Coleman after missing out on October's internationals with injury. However, Sheffield United wing-back Enda Stevens has been forced to withdraw from the squad with Nottingham Forest's Cyrus Christie taking his place.

Predicted Lineups

England: Pope; Dier, Coady, Mings; Trippier, Winks, Rice, Saka; Mount, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish.

Republic of Ireland: Randolph; Coleman, O'Shea, Duffy, Doherty; Hendrick, Hourihane, Molumby; Horgan, Idah, Connolly.

Recent Form

After waltzing through their pre-pandemic European qualifiers in refreshingly swashbuckling style, England have endured a staccato and laboured opening round of fixtures in 2020, perhaps not entirely separated from Southgate's return to a three and often five-man defence.

Two insipid performances against Iceland and Denmark in September were followed up by a less than convincing victory over Belgium, before England were brought crashing back down to Earth with defeat against Denmark.

Southgate's counterpart Kenny is yet to win any of his five games in charge of the Republic of Ireland since taking over from Mick McCarthy after the 2020 European Championships were postponed. Defeat to Slovakia in the October international break ended the nation's hopes of reaching the tournament they summer and they lie third in their Nations League group with just two points from four games, trailing leaders Wales by eight points.

Here's how each side has fared in their last five outings.

England

England 0-1 Denmark (14/10)
England 2-1 Belgium (11/10)
England 3-0 Wales (8/10)
Denmark 0-0 England (8/9)
Iceland 0-1 England (5/9)

Republic of Ireland

Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland (14/10)
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales (11/10)
Slovakia 0-0 (4-2) Republic of Ireland (8/10)
Republic of Ireland 0-1 Finland (6/9)
Bulgaria 1-1 Republic of Ireland (3/9)

Prediction

Since Shane Duffy's 93rd-minute equaliser in Kenny's debut match as manager, the Republic have gone four games without scoring, their longest run without a competitive goal since March 1989.

While England have struggled to recapture their sparkling form in 2019 over recent months, even Southgate's second string side should have enough to ensure Ireland's wait for another goal, and a victory, under Kenny goes on.

Prediction: England 2-0 Republic of Ireland