You know what this game needs? It needs more cowbell. The home fans duly oblige as they ring out around the stadium.

Darren Randolph's yellow kit is almost completely brown now from mud as he whacks another goal kick down the pitch.

The pitch really does look miserable, uneven surface and lots of mud. Republic of Ireland thump it long in the hope of causing a bit of chaos in the box but Switzerland sweep up.

Switzerland are well on top and draw an early save out of Darren Randolph as he dives low to his left to deny a decent Granit Xhaka strike.

Italy, who have already qualified for Euro 2020, are already a goal up against Liechtenstein.

Federico Bernardeschi bagging after just two minutes.

Stephan Lichtsteiner is brought down by James McClean and Switzerland have a free-kick on the right side of the box. Granit Xhaka fancies it but drives a low effort into the Republic of Ireland wall. Poor free-kick.

A tactical tweak by Mick McCarthy to accommodate Aaron Connolly as he starts as part of a front two alongside James Collins.

Connolly put in a bright display when he came on late against Georgia. He's not seen much of the ball yet with the hosts doing the early attacking.

Ireland get this crucial Euro 2020 qualifier under way.

The rain appears to have stopped and the players are out on (the very muddy) pitch.

Now for the national anthems.

Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy, speaking to Sky Sports: "You have just asked me about the pitch. It may well be a leveller, I watched them play Denmark and they played some fabulous, beautiful football.

"It may just give us a bit more of an advantage than if it was on a bowling green."

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Manchester United and Denmark legend Peter Schmeichel has offered his opinion on the Republic of Ireland...

"Switzerland will win against Ireland," he said., external “I have seen Ireland play and they are so bad."

If the Irish players needed any more motivation to win...

Switzerland are third in Group D and were beaten by Denmark 1-0 on Saturday. However, they have a game in hand over both the Danes and the Republic of Ireland, making tonight's game all the more important.

“We’re expecting an all-or-nothing encounter,” Switzerland boss Petković said.

“We know more or less how Ireland will approach the game. It will probably be a match like the one in Dublin, but we need to earn our own luck by putting more power into our performance.”

The two sides drew 1-1 in Dublin last month.

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Teemu Pukki scored twice as Finland edged closer to a first-ever appearance at a major tournament by beating Armenia 3-0 in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Fredrik Jensen got Finland's other goal as they strengthened their place in second in Group J. They are five points clear of Armenia.

Pukki's double means he has 22 goals in total for Finland, 10 behind all-time top scorer Jari Litmanen.

Shameless plug, but I wrote some words on Pukki and his fall and meteoric rise. Read it here.

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The England Under-21s are in action tonight with a crucial Euro 2021 qualifier against Austria in Milton Keynes.

Aidy Boothroyd's side are second in Group 3 with two wins from two games but were perhaps given an important lesson in being guarded against complacency when they let slip a two-goal lead in a friendly against Slovenia on Friday to draw 2-2.

They certainly cannot afford any lapses in concentration against a side that has won all three of their qualifying games and currently sit top of the standings...

Fancy a bit of football chat? The Monday Night Club wasn't on BBC Radio 5 live last night because of the England game, so it has turned into the Tuesday Night Club instead.

Tune in!

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Mick McCarthy says he doesn't understand the 'doom and gloom' surrounding the Republic of Ireland ahead of tonight's game.

"I don't get it, I really don't get it," McCarthy said. "I think everybody would have taken the position we're in now.

"Of course, the peddlers of doom and gloom will say 'well we've no chance of winning'. I don't get that. Who knows, who knows what will happen?"

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It has been tipping it down in Geneva today and there were some doubts this game would go ahead but it passed a pitch inspection at 18:00 BST.

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The team news is in and it is a big night for Aaron Connolly as the 19-year-old Brighton striker makes his first start for the Republic of Ireland.

Meanwhile, Enda Stevens returns to the team after suspension and Alan Browne comes into midfield.

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka starts for Switzerland, who name the same side that lost 1-0 to Denmark at the weekend.

Switzerland X: Sommer, Akanji, Schar, Elvedi, Rodriguez, Xhaka, Zakaria, Lichtsteiner, Embolo, Mehmedi, Seferovic

Republic of Ireland XI: Randolph, Duffy, Egan, Stevens, Coleman, Whelan, McClean, Hendrick, Browne, Connolly, Collins.

Five teams have secured their places at Euro 2020 - Belgium, Italy, Russia, Poland and Ukraine.

The Republic of Ireland can join them tonight but need a win at Switzerland to do so, meanwhile three-time winners Spain need just a draw at Sweden to qualify.

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The draw with Georgia was undoubtedly disappointing for the Republic of Ireland, but the picture is far from bleak for Mick McCarthy's side.

Just one win from their two remaining qualifiers will seal their place at Euro 2020.

That's the upshot. However, neither game will be easy.

Tonight they face a Switzerland side who need to win to keep qualification in their own hands and then they face Denmark - the team who denied the Republic of Ireland their place at the 2018 World Cup...

Back in 2017, during qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, the Republic of Ireland were top of their group before being held to a frustrating draw by Georgia.

They went on to lose their next game before ultimately failing to qualify for the tournament in Russia.

On Saturday, during qualifying for Euro 2020, the Republic of Ireland were top of their group before being held to a frustrating draw by Georgia...

.. but surely history will not repeat?

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