Neil Johnston
BBC Sport in Dublin

As if on cue, the sun came out in Dublin for the Republic of Ireland's open training session.

Spirits are high in the camp on the eve of their first match with England in Dublin for nine years.

I was fortunate to get close to the pitch and it looks in immaculate condition, while there is a hive of activity going on behind the scenes to get the stadium ready for Saturday's 17:00 BST kick-off.

Meanwhile, England fans have started pouring into Dublin for the Nations League fixture, with up to 5,000 expected in the city for the game.

There was even an England fan wearing a Manchester United shirt on board my plane from Liverpool on Thursday. Brave man.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport in Dublin

Image source, PA Media

Heimir Hallgrimsson could not have asked for a bigger first game in charge but the new Republic of Ireland boss looked relaxed and was in a playful mood when he faced the media in Dublin this morning.

He spent around 25 minutes answering questions at the Aviva Stadium before his players trained at the ground.

"It’s none of your business when I talk to the players," he joked when asked if he had informed them of his starting XI.

Later he added: "I was told the weather was good in Ireland," on a grey, cloudy morning in Dublin.

The Football News Show

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking on The Football News Show, about the opportunity facing Lee Carsley: "The long-term goal is qualification for the World Cup. But with the relegation from the Nations League now, they're going to look to progress in this tournament in the best possible way and there's no better platform for Lee Carsley, in my opinion, than the games he's got coming ahead of him.

"They're not going to be easy, you look at the Republic or Ireland, they've got a new manager in charge. You look at their manager, the last time he played against England, he was in charge of Iceland and they knocked England out of the Euros in 2016. So he knows how to beat an England team.

"It's not going to be easy for Lee Carsley but he's got a perfect opportunity now with a fresh squad and you look at the players that have pulled out of the squad, you look at the players that are missing from injury.

"He's been forced into a couple of changes and he's going to be forced into playing a couple of players that he might have not necessarily felt had to play, so I think it's a really good opportunity for him."

Image source, PA Media

It's a quirk of fate that Saturday's match in Dublin will be a first in charge for managers of both teams.

Heimir Hallgrimsson is the new permanent boss of the Republic of Ireland, while Lee Carsley has been given the England role on an interim basis...

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport in Dublin

Image source, PA Media

More from Heimir HallgrImsson on taking charge of the Republic of Ireland for the first time.

"I'm really excited - excited about the atmosphere," he said. "Everyone tells us how good it is going to be. Everyone says it will be massive against England.

"Most of all I'm excited to meet the fans and the atmosphere at the Aviva. We have to play as a collective [if we are to beat England]."

Chris

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport in Dublin

Heimir Hallgrimsson says he has been "briefed" on the rivalry between England and the Republic of Ireland.

"As coaches it's not necessary to motivate players playing England," adds the former Iceland and Jamaica boss.

Hallgrimsson says his players will be "excited for the battle that comes within" but it is his job to "cool them all down".

The Republic of Ireland boss says there are no new injury problems and that he will reveal his starting XI to his players this afternoon.

What will the shape of his team look like?

"You will see when we kick-off. We are not going to talk about how we play or tactics. But it is a fair question."

We broke off from the Republic of Ireland's news conference to cover England's training session.

Let's return to Dublin now to catch the tail end of new manager Heimir Hallgrimsson's media duties...

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport senior women's football reporter

Image source, BBC Sport

Arsenal forward Beth Mead has returned to training after recovering from a groin issue.

There is no Steph Catley as the players prepare for tomorrow’s match with Rosenborg. She picked up a minor muscle injury during pre-season.

That message from Emma came during the England training session...the Arsenal players are now being put through their paces at London Colney...

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport senior women's football reporter

I'm back at London Colney, the home of Arsenal's training facilities as the women's team prepare for their Women's Champions League qualifier against Rosenborg.

It's a lengthy qualification process as the Gunners had to beat Rangers in a first-round semi-final on Wednesday to set up this first-round final tie with the Norwegian club.

The winners of tomorrow's match will then play a two-legged tie in the second round of qualifying for a place in the main group-stage draw.

We have open training shortly. Will Beth Mead be back? Steph Catley might not quite be ready.

We'll hear from manager Jonas Eidevall later and one of the players in the media conference.

From one open training session to another...

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have signed goalkeeper Katie Startup from Brighton in a two-year deal.

Startup was on loan to City in the second half of last season. She comes in because of City's need for goalkeeper cover.

Khiara Keating is expected to remain the club's number one, but Ellie Roebuck left for Barcelona this summer and Sandy MacIver is still recovering from rupturing her ACL.

Startup, 25, said: “It feels great, I’m really excited to be back. A bit longer this time, hopefully, and I’m excited to see what’s next really.”

“I just knew that when the opportunity did arise, I really enjoyed my time here and I felt really welcome, valued and I settled into the team well.

“I just want to learn off everyone, it’s such a high standard of a group probably will be facing some difficult shots I suspect. You’re not light on star quality strikers so I’m excited to test myself with the group.”

England

The atmosphere in camp seems joyful and relaxed. The players are having banter between themselves as the drills continue and they seem to be having a lot of fun.

The stream has now ended and so we will have to wait and see what "Cars-ball" truly looks like tomorrow night.

What we do know, however, is that all 23 players trained, meaning Lee Carsley will hopefully have a full squad of players to choose from for Saturday's Nations League opener in Dublin.

England

The players stand in a circle with two in the middle trying to win the ball, they have 20 passes to do it.

Rico Lewis catches them on pass nine and you can hear the dulcet tones of Harry Kane counting the passes.

Jack Grealish is the next to win it after pass five.

England

Nick Pope is in goal now and saves two out of three shots fired at him.

They all rotate into goal and practise saving balls, which will be aimed at them tomorrow night.

The camera then slowly pans back to the main group as warm-up ends and the main drills begin.

England

There are quite animated discussions happening between Ashley Cole and Lee Carsley, who are faced away from the players warming up.

Now players are running with resistance bands on. One player is holding the band and another is running with it on.

If you can't see the images, imagine a toddler with reins on leading their parent around a supermarket!

Pairs include Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze and Harry Kane and Conor Gallagher.

Image source, Reuters

England

A running drill begins the training session, the players run up and down the pitch. The only players separated from the group are the goalkeepers who are doing their own drills.

Some high knees and side steps as the camera focuses on Harry Kane, who has had a good start to the season with Bayern Munich.

Ashley Cole gets a close up, strange to see the former England international in the first-team coaching set-up instead of being a part of the squad!

Image source, Getty Images

England

The players are coming out in dribs and drabs with Jack Grealish walking out alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka.

Marc Guehi, John Stones and Conor Gallagher, who were all part of Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad, are next. It is always interesting to see who hangs out with who in England camp.

They are all waiting for instructions now and stretching out.

England

There are sunny but windy conditions at St George's Park. The players join the coaches on the training pitch, first out are the goalkeepers who take a leisurely walk to the goal.

Jordan Pickford has a few stretches before taking the position in goal.

Harry Kane and Harry Maguire are next, both looking in good spirits in relaxed conversation.

Image source, PA Media