Nations League: Republic of Ireland 0-1 Ukraine - visitors bounce back from World Cup loss

1. Republic lost their Nations League opener to Armenia
2. Ukraine were beaten by Wales in World Cup play-off
3. Get involved via #bbcfootball

Both goalkeepers were on the bench in the recent Champions League final in Paris.

Andrii Lunin's Real Madrid beat Caoimhin Kelleher's Liverpool.

Jason Knight, one of the two Irish changes, has had an excellent start. He drills in a shot from a good 25 yards which Andriii Lunin palms around the post.

Jeff Hendrick has a crack for Ireland but it's heavily deflected and bounces into the keeper's gloves.

Ukraine are making quite a few errors at the back. Their back three have never played together before - or at all this year.

This is the first ever meeting between the Republic of Ireland and the Ukraine.

Ireland have lost only of their last 24 matches against teams they were facing for the first time - against Belarus in May 2016.

Getty Images

Callum Robinson flicks on Josh Cullen's corner but it's cleared.

Now Robinson's cross is headed away before it reaches Shane Duffy.

Ukraine keeper Andrii Lunin gives the ball straight to Chiedozie Ogbene but the Irish winger's cross is put behind for a corner.

Make that two in 102. Jason Knight cuts in from the left wing, where he has started, before dragging a weak shot which is easily saved.

Now Cyrus Christie's cross is caught by Real Madrid keeper Andrii Lunin.

The Republic of Ireland have scored with only 2% of their shots in the Nations League (two goals from 101 shots).

Shaun Williams netted in a 4-1 defeat in Wales in their opening game in 2018 and Shane Duffy netted a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in 2020. Both away games.

Duffy has had 19 of Ireland's 101 shots.

Bright start for the Irish as Jason Knight runs forward and finds Callum Robinson but the forward can't control the ball and it's gone.

Matt Gault

BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

Applause rings out as Republic captain Seamus Coleman - who is not playing tonight - leads the mascots over to the Ukraine supporters and presents them with flowers.

After that, there is further applause as everyone inside the stadium shows their solidarity with Ukraine.

A poignant note on which to begin the evening.

BBC Sport

KICK-OFF

We are under way at Lansdowne Road.

There is a moment's applause before kick-off for the situation in Ukraine.

'We put it behind us'

The Republic of Ireland lost Saturday's opener to Armenia 1-0 in Yerevan.

That ended a run of eight games unbeaten in all competitions and friendlies.

"I think we always want to win at all costs," said defender Shane Duffy.

"There are different opinions, but the feeling I have is that we went outthere and everyone gave everything in the game. It wasn't for the lack of effort or trying.

"It was a night where we didn't get it right and we have to accept that. As the gaffer says, we reflected on it and we put it behind us."

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'Soldiers watch our games in trenches'

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Of the 40,000 crowd today, about 3,500 tickets have been given to Ukrainian refugees.

The national team have to try to bounce back from their World Cup play-off defeat by Wales - as the Russian invasion of their country continues.

Dynamo Kyiv midfielder Serhiy Sydorchuk said: "It's not difficult to get fired up for the game because when you get feedback from Ukraine.

"Soldiers watch our games in trenches, people are following us under the bombs, it gives us enormous strength, enormous inspiration, so this game, it's very easy to get set on.

"The president [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy said when the war started that every Ukrainian should be in his or her place, in order to be helpful in the best way possible to bring victory.

"I think what I am doing on the football pitch is what president Zelenskyy said, in my best capacity to bring glory to Ukraine."

Sydorchuk, like many of his team-mates, had not played since December before their recent World Cup play-offs.

The players are out. The Ukraine players are all wrapped in their national flag.

The other games

Reuters

There are four Nations League games tonight.

Wales play the Netherlands - BBC Wales have live text commentary of that.

Scotland face Armenia - BBC Scotland have live text of that.

Belgium play Poland. Sadly I don't think there is such a thing as the BBC Belgium or BBC Poland sports team so you'll have to make do with the odd update of that here.

I'll give you the latest on the Wales and Scotland games too.

Team news

Two changes for the Republic of Ireland from the loss in Armenia.

Cyrus Christie and Jason Knight replace Seamus Coleman, who is injured, and Troy Parrott.

Ukraine make 10 changes from the side who lost to Wales - with only Vitaliy Mykolenko staying in the team.

None of their back three have played a game in 2022 for club or country - and all are making their competitive international debuts.

Matt Gault

BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

Getty Images

This wasn’t how the Republic of Ireland’s latest Nations League campaign was supposed to start.

After an eight-game unbeaten run – that included creditable draws with Belgium and Portugal but also expected victories against the likes of Qatar and Lithuania – the Republic were expected to overcome Armenia and set themselves up for three games against more polished opposition in Ukraine and Scotland.

However, Saturday’s shock defeat in Yerevan, which evoked memories of last year’s disastrous home loss to Luxembourg, has left Stephen Kenny and his players on the backfoot and facing fresh criticism.

That night against Luxembourg effectively ended Irish hopes of reaching this year’s World Cup, of course. That was 15 months ago. The pain of missing out on the finals in Qatar is much fresher for Ukraine, however, who arrive in Dublin just three days on from losing their play-off final to Wales.

Ranked 27th in the world, Ukraine undoubtedly represent a step-up from Armenia, but given the emotion and effort the Ukrainians poured into beating Scotland before coming up agonisingly short against the Welsh, the Republic can perhaps expect a drop in intensity from tonight’s opponents.

Indeed, while Kenny makes just two changes from Yerevan – with Cyrus Christie and Jason Knight drafted in - Everton left-back Vitalii Mykolenko is the only Ukraine player retained from the Cardiff game.

The atmosphere should be charged tonight. The Ukraine players will be warmly received by the Irish crowd tonight when they emerge from the tunnel, and with 3,500 complimentary tickets offered to Ukrainians who have recently arrived in Ireland, there will be plenty of blue and yellow on display in the North Stand.

LDLDDLDLLDL

In 2018 the Republic of Ireland lost to Wales, drew with Denmark, lost to Wales and drew with Denmark.

Then in 2020 they drew with Bulgaria, lost to Finland, drew with Wales, lost to Finland and Wales and drew with Bulgaria.

Last week they lost to Armenia.

Almost four years after Uefa invented the Nations League, the Irish have yet to win a game in it.

Can they make it 12th time lucky against Ukraine tonight.

PA Media