Summary

  • Hourihane gives Ireland lead with a superb free-kick

  • Republic of Ireland second in Group D after 1-0 win over Gibraltar

  • Home fans protest hiring of John Delaney by FAI

  • England U21s go down 2-1 to Germany in friendly

  1. Postpublished at 55 mins

    England U21s 1-1 Germany U21s

    It's substitution time at Bournemouth.

    There is a whole huddle of green shirts on the touchline as five German changes are made. The impressive Neuhaus is one of those to go off. I'll get back to you on the rest.

  2. Angel for Argentinapublished at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    Who needs Messi/Aguero/Higuain/Icardi when you've got Angel Correa!

    The Atletico Madrid player looks to have nabbed a late winner for Argentina in their friendly in Morocco.

    Meanwhile, about 3,500km to the north-east, Correa's club-mate Alvaro Morata has still scored the only goal of the game for Spain in their Euro 2020 qualifier in Malta.

    Interestingly Sergio Ramos is getting the bird everytime he gets the ball. There has been one theory that it is because there are plenty of Maltese Liverpool fans...

    Argentina scoreImage source, Getty Images
  3. CLOSE!published at 53 mins

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia

    Free header!

    Ireland should score. Conor Hourihane delivers a lovely free-kick from the left and Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick are both free at the near post.

    Hendrick is is probably in the better position to head home from six yards but Brady gets in his way and they miss the chance.

  4. Postpublished at 50 mins

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia

    The Georgia medical staff will have clocked up plenty of steps on the pedometer tonight. They rush on again after another white-shirted player drops to the ground with an injury.

  5. Bobby Firmino brings Brazil levelpublished at 20:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    Brazil are level, and it is Roberto Firmino with the goal. The Liverpool striker is sharp enough to anticipate an error in the offing and seizes his moment when a Czech defender dallies on the ball. One powerful run, some strength to hold off a challenge and a neat finish later we are all square.

    Meanwhile, Italy continue to pummel poor Liechtenstein. Fabio Quagliarella has his second, from the penalty spot following a foul that saw visiting defender Daniel Kaufmann sent off. It's 4-0 and likely to be more.

    Roberto Firmino scoresImage source, Getty Images
  6. KICK-OFFpublished at 20:52 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia

    Ireland start the second half.

    That chance just before half-time for Georgia showed that the hosts need to be careful and kill this game off.

  7. Postpublished at 20:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    England U21s 1-1 Germany U21s

    Sorry. I got a little excited there.

    Manchester City youngster Foden spins away in the centre circle and leaves two of three German players for dead in midfield. He carries the ball to the edge of the box before being scythed down.

    I know it's only an Under 21 friendly but Foden really could be a top player.

  8. Postpublished at 47 mins

    England U21s 1-1 Germany U21s

    Phil Foden is unreal.

    Phil FodenImage source, Rex Features
  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    #bbcfootball

    Sean FromTheWest: Ireland leading Georgia 1 set to love at HT.

  10. KICK-OFFpublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    England U21s 1-1 Germany U21s

    Back under way at Bournemouth in this Under 21 friendly between England and Germany

  11. Postpublished at 20:45 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    HT: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia

    Hourihane's goal came moments after the Ireland fans protested against John Delaney.

    Delaney stepped down as chief executive on Saturday but was moved to the position of executive vice-president.

    Delaney had come under pressure when it was revealed he had provided a 100,000 euro (£85,000) cheque in April 2017 to the FAI, which did not appear in its audited accounts.

    Delaney, a former vice-president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, said he had loaned his employers the money "to aid a very short-term cash flow issue".

    The fans protested by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch. There weren't a lot of them but enough to stop the game for a couple of minutes.

    Ireland fansImage source, Reuters
    Richard KeoghImage source, Getty Images
  12. Postpublished at 20:41 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    HT: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia

    Conor Hourihane will remember his first goal for Ireland for some time.

    It was a lovely way to score it.

    A few questions should be asked about the Georgia wall and goalkeeper, however. Hourihane bent the ball around the edge of the wall and it didn't go right in the corner.

    Conor Hourihane scores free-kickImage source, Reuters
  13. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:37 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia

    Georgia apply a little more pressure before the half-time whistle but Ireland hold firm.

    Ireland deserve their lead but that was a big save from Darren Randolph right on the stroke of half-time to keep the home side ahead.

    Half-time scoreImage source, BBC Sport
  14. GREAT SAVE!published at 45+3 mins

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia

    But that's a big save from Republic of Ireland keeper Darren Randolph!

    A long ball is pumped into the box by Georgia and it's knocked down to Valeriane Gvilia on the edge of the six-yard box. He makes excellent contact with a half volley but Randolph beats the ball away above his head.

    A crucial save at an important time.

  15. (NOT EVEN) CLOSE!published at 45+2 mins

    Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia

    That's wild from Georgia's Nika Kvekveskiri. He has a shot from miles out and it flies way over and way wide.

    We're halfway through four minutes of added time.

  16. Spain sloppy as Malta dig inpublished at 20:32 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    Spain's players might be thankful that manager Luis Enrique is not on the sideline tonight. He'd be getting out the hairdryer at half-time, that's for sure.

    Luis Enrique, in case you missed it earlier, has returned home for an urgent family matter.

    In his absence, they are leading 1-0 against Malta thanks to Alvaro Morata but have been sloppy in the final third against a side ranked 182nd in the world.

    Meanwhile, a youthful Argentina are labouring in Morocco. Still goalless approaching full-time in Tangier.

    Morocco"s Mehdi BenatiaImage source, Getty Images
  17. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:32 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    England U21s 1-1 Germany U21s

    And that's the last action of the first half at the Vitality Stadium.

    There are still a couple of minutes to go over in Dublin...

  18. goal

    GOAL - England U21s 1-1 Germany U21spublished at 20:28 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    Dominic Solanke

    Scrappy and against the run of play but England won't care! The Under 21s are back level.

    It's Dominic Solanke with the goal on his home ground but it all comes from a bit of magic from Phil Foden on the edge of the box.

    He produces a delightful turn on the edge of the box to take a German defender out of the game. The Man City midfielder's pass is then deflected through to Solanke who then bundles home.

    Dominic Solanke of England U21 scoresImage source, Rex Features
  19. Postpublished at 20:28 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    Brazil are losing to a team England beat 5-0 last week!

  20. Brazil behind, Italy on firepublished at 20:27 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March 2019

    Brazil are behind! David Pavelka has just smashed an effort past Alisson to give Czech Republic the lead in the friendly between the sides.

    Meanwhile, in Parma, things have gone from bad to worse for poor Liechtenstein. They now trail Italy 3-0. Marco Verratti got the home side's second just after the half-hour mark, before Fabio Quagliarella added a third three minutes later. Game over.

    Czech Republic take the leadImage source, Reuters