Pat Fenlon
Speaking on RTE Radio 1

The atmosphere is great and there is an air of confidence around the place. It is a massive game and everyone is confident.

Republic of Ireland winger Chedozie Ogbene said that being out for nine months with an Achilles tendon injury helped him to "see life in a different perspective".

The 28-year-old sustained the injury when playing for his club at the time Ipswich Town in a 4-3 Premier League defeat against Brentford in October last year.

He was forced to miss the rest of the campaign as the Tractor Boys were relegated but he says the time out helped him to grow as a person and player and he would go through it all again.

"Knowing what I know now, if I go back nine months I would rupture my Achilles again, I am a lot wiser now, there was a lot of knowledge I acquired being injured," he said.

"I'm a different person, I don't fear many things now and I'm a lot more grateful."

Ogbene, who has since made the switch to fellow Championship side Sheffield United, said he spent "a lot of hours getting to know my body" and "watching clips" to help him return physically and tactically sharper for pre-season this summer.

"Watching a lot of football for nine months, you learn a lot more. When you're immersed in it it is 100 miles an hour and the stuff the manager says you don't really understand but when you're out of it and watching from the side it's a really good education," he explained.

"I spoke to John Egan and Gavin Bazunu, who had previous Achilles [injuries]. I spoke to them about their journeys so I made sure I put those things in my rehab early, and I had a very smooth and successful rehab.

"I'm so glad it has paid off I had a wonderful pre-season and my body has felt as fit and strong as it has ever been so I am excited."

Read more from Ogbene here.

Image source, Inpho

Odhrán Crumley
BBC Sport NI in Dublin

Just watching the Hungary team warming up to my left-hand side and they are going through the simple pass and shoot from the edge of the 18-yard box drill.

Why are we even taking about this you may ask? Well, the Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai has scored eight of the eight shots I have watched him take.

They're absolute thunderbolts and the ball hits the net with the poetry, symmetry and angelic nature of an Olympic swimmer.

As Arsenal found out last Sunday, Republic of Ireland will have to beware of his quality - could he be the difference?

It's also worth noting the large (and very vocal) Hungarian crowd occupying the lower part of the Aviva bowl.

Image source, Getty Images

Heimir Hallgrimsson has gone through World Cup qualifying before.

When in charge of Iceland he guided the team to seven wins from their 10 qualifiers as they topped the group and reached the 2018 World Cup.

Paddy McCarthy, a member of the Republic of Ireland backroom staff said he thinks the team are "on the cusp" of something great and Hallgrimsson will hope to take that impressive World Cup qualifying record over to the Irish.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI

Flashback to December and the mood music around the Irish national team wasn't great.

Heimir Hallgrimsson had won just two of his first Nations League games in charge, both of those coming against Finland.

Yet, now, coming into these qualifiers, there is cautious optimism after a positive start to 2025.

Two wins over Bulgaria in the Nations League play-off followed by two draws against Senegal and Luxembourg, mean the Republic of Ireland are unbeaten in their last five games and with Hungary in such poor form, they will fancy their chances at a raucous Aviva Stadium.

Image source, Inpho

There can't be many more optimistic Republic of Ireland fans than this guy, who not only envisions the Irish reaching the World Cup but believes Heimir Hallgrimsson will lead them all the way to winning the tournament by the looks of his flag.

One can dream!

Image source, Inpho

Evan Ferguson has had a difficult last two years through injury and loss of form.

Last year's six-month loan spell at West Ham didn't work out but the striker has already started well at his new temporary side Roma, registering an assist in his first game.

He looks sharp and fit and Irish fans will hope he takes that good start into tonight's game as he starts up front.

Image source, Getty Images

• The Republic of Ireland have kept just two clean sheets in their last 10 games
• They are unbeaten in their last three games at the Aviva Stadium
• Three of the last five meetings between the two sides have ended 0-0
• Hungary have not lost any of their previous 11 qualifying matches for the World Cup or Euros with seven wins and four draws. Their last defeat was a 1-0 loss against Albania in October 2021.
• Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 16 of Hungary's 54 goals under Marco Rossi (29%)

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said "it is not for me to decide" when it comes to gender pay equality.

On Sunday, it emerged that former women's head coach Eileen Gleeson is taking a discrimination case against the Football Association of Ireland, alleging mistreatment towards her and her backroom team on the basis of gender.

Gleeson, who took over from Vera Pauw in August 2023, was not offered a contract extension after missing out on qualification to Euro 2025.

The former manager also alleges the senior women's team was not afforded the same travel, security, medical and performance support as the men's team.

When asked for his views on the wider issue of gender equality between the men's and women's teams, Hallgrimsson feels it "depends on the job".

"That's not for me to decide," he said at a press conference ahead of Saturday's opening World Cup qualifier against Hungary.

"I can only talk from my point of view. I was offered a job and it was my decision if I took it or refused it. A lot of coaches will do the same things as I am doing and have a lot more money for that.

"There's also a lot of coaches doing the same thing as I am getting a lot less of a salary than me.

"I can accept a job offer or refuse it as my right and that has nothing to do with gender in my opinion."

Hallgrimsson does not believe it is part of his own pay grade to get involved in such a debate, but pointed out that differences in wages is not just confined between men and women.

"It's the same as players," he said.

"The highest paid players in the world don't play more game or do more training, but are valued higher. The valuation in this game is for someone else to decide."

Image source, Inpho

In tonight's other game in Group F, Portugal got up and running with a 5-0 victory away to Armenia.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix both scored twice with Joao Cancelo also getting on the scoresheet.

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher says it has been tough to process the loss of former team-mate and "huge friend" Diogo Jota.

Kelleher had formed a close friendship with the late Portuguese star from their years at Liverpool and was a guest at his wedding, just 11 days before he and younger brother Andre Silva lost their lives in a car crash in Spain.

Now plying his trade with Brentford following a summer move, the sense of loss has not lessened for Kelleher, who also acknowledged the grief that still reverberates around Anfield.

"It's not been the easiest of times for me, personally, and for the lads at Liverpool it's going to be difficult," the 26-year-old said.

"He's going to be a big miss.

"I've lost a huge friend, so it's been difficult, as you'd imagine."

Read more from Kelleher here.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's some more from Heimir Hallgrimsson on the good feeling in the Irish camp: "The energy is coming, more and more leaders are emerging and that has been down to consistent messages to the players. It looks like the players are taller today than when I came a year ago. I feel the energy more now than I did a year ago," he added.

"I think we have a strong team, we are all in sync and tactically we have been improving every camp. It is a young squad in the past that didn't have many wins, but I think they can feel we are getting stronger every camp and I feel the same.

"The quality in this team is bigger than I had with Iceland. There is more individual quality in this team."

These two sides have met fairly recently, with Troy Parrott scoring a late winner to help the Republic of Ireland claim a 2-1 friendly win in Dublin.

Adam Idah headed home the opener in the 36th minute before Adam Lang equalised four minutes later when he converted from close range.

Parrott capitalised on a number of defensive errors to strike in the 92nd minute to hand Hungary a first defeat in 14 matches.

It was the sole victory that John O'Shea enjoyed as interim manager.

Image source, Inpho

Whilst Liverpool duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez are obvious players that the Republic of Ireland will look to tame, Ferencevaros striker Barnabas Varga is another who can cause problems.

Managed by Irish great Robbie Keane at club level, Varga has 10 goals in 11 games so far this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Hungary under Marco Rossi have had a bit of a nightmare recently.

They have lost six of their 11 competitive games, as many as they lost in their previous 33 games, including a painful 6-1 aggregate defeat against Turkey in a Nations League play-off earlier this year.

Rossi, who recently signed a contract extension to remain as boss until 2030, will rely again on captain Dominik Szoboszlai to produce, he has four goals in seven games for his country.

The Liverpool man has been playing right-back for his club recently but expect to see him in a more advanced midfield role in Dublin and of course across all their free-kicks after that sumptuous goal against Arsenal.

Image source, Getty Images

Dominik Szoboszlai surveying the scene at the Aviva Stadium.

Like the Republic of Ireland's Ryan Manning, he will fancy his chances from a free-kick if he gets the opportunity tonight following his stunning dead ball effort against Arsenal for Liverpool.

Let's take a look at Hungary now.

Image source, Inpho

Southampton full-back Ryan Manning has already found the net twice from free-kicks this season, scoring against Wrexham and then in last week's draw against Watford.

He is hopeful he can replicate that for the Republic of Ireland in their opening World Cup qualifier in Dublin against Hungary on Saturday as he comes into the side after making an appearance off the bench against Luxembourg in June.

"I had a good start to the season, a couple of free-kicks and some good performances," said the Galway man.

"I've been fortunate to score a couple over the past few weeks. Confidence is pretty high at the minute, so hopefully we get something within shooting range on Saturday."

Manning was just six years old when the Republic of Ireland past appeared at the World Cup in 2002.

He can recall the penalty shootout exit to Spain in the last 16, but memories of the European Championships' appearances in 2012 and 2016 are more vivid and he believes it's time they "step up" and return to a major tournament.

"We've had a tough few years with qualification campaigns, but the squad now had four or five club captains.

"You've people with a lot of caps, experienced Premier League players, Championship players, so the squad's in as good a place as it has been in a few years. Now is the time we need to step up as a group and put in the performances to get to a tournament."

Image source, Inpho

Heimir Hallgrimsson makes six changes from the side that drew 0-0 in a friendly with Luxembourg in June.

Caoimhin Kelleher, Matt Doherty, Josh Cullen, Finn Azaz, Sammie Szmodics and Ryan Manning come into the side.

There is a welcome return to the bench for Chiedozie Ogbene, who spent nine months out injured and last played for his country in October 2024.

Liverpool duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez start for Hungary along with West Brom's Callum Styles.

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher, O'Brien, Collins (c), O'Shea, Doherty, Knight, Cullen, Azaz, Szmodics, Ferguson, Mannings.

Subs: Bazunu, Travers, Idah, Dunne, Phillips, Johnston, Scales, McAteer, Kenny, Lawal, Ogbene, Taylor.

Hungary: Dibusz, Nego, Orban A Szalai, Kerkez, Styles, Bolla, Szoboszlai (c), A Toth, Sallai, B Varga.

Subs: Ba Toth, Szappanos, Osvath, Mocsi, G Szalai, Vitalis, Toth, Gruber, M Dardari, Lukas, Zs Nagy, Otvos.

Image source, BBC Sport

The Republic of Ireland and Hungary fans have been gathering in Dublin ahead of tonight's sold-out game at the Aviva Stadium.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Odhrán Crumley
BBC Sport NI in Dublin

Just 72 days, little over 10 weeks, will decide the Republic of Ireland's World Cup fate.

The traditional World Cup qualifying campaign is 18 months, but this sprint campaign has been met with optimism in Dublin with the sold-out signs up here around the Aviva Stadium.

That big bubble of optimism will either expand or burst depending on tonight's result for the team in green and white.

It's not exactly a must-win but more of a must not lose for Heimer Halgrimsson's side and with Portugal the stand-out team in the group it feels like a battle between the Republic of Ireland for that second spot and a play-off berth.

The last two Republic of Ireland qualifying campaigns have been over before they really started, the bare minimum for this Irish side is to still be in with a chance of qualifying when they head to Budapest for the final group game on 16 November.

Image source, Inpho