Republic hopes fade after Dutch defeat - how the action unfolded

1. Republic of Ireland 1-2 Netherlands (result)
2. Idah scores early penalty after Virgil van Dijk handball
3. Gakpo levels with a 19th-minute penalty
4. Weghorst puts Dutch ahead on 56

GOAL - REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 1-0 NETHERLANDS

What a start for the Republic as Adam Idah tucks away the spot-kick and gives the hosts a massive early boost.

The goal came after the Republic almost scored when Mark Flekken's pass out was intercepted and the ball came to Chiedozie Ogbene, who saw his shot blocked.

The handball came from the resulting corner.

BBC Sport

Republic of Ireland goal

Penalty to the Republic for handball by Virgil van Dijk.

KICK-OFF

After a minute's silence in memory of the victims of the Morocco earthquake the action is under way at the Aviva Stadium.

'You can feel the atmosphere already'

Ronnie Whelan

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE

You can feel the atmosphere already. The crowd are trying to get behind the players and the game hasn't even started yet.

Matt Gault

BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

I mentioned the Dutch fans earlier. The home supporters have well and truly awakened now.

Proper big-game atmosphere.

There is a real energy at the Aviva tonight. It feels like it could be a defining night in the Stephen Kenny era.

Kenny pins Euro hopes on win over Dutch

Republic boss Stephen Kenny believes his side's Euro 2024 hopes can be reignited if they are able to produce the "performance of their lives" tonight.

Realistically only a shock victory over the Dutch in Dublin can keep alive any slim qualification hopes.

"We've just got to get ready now," said Kenny.

"We knew that if we beat Holland on Sunday, we're level [on points]. We've got Greece at home and Gibraltar away in October, so [the match against the Netherlands] is that big for us."

Read more here

Getty Images

Stephen Kenny looks into the camera during Saturday's training session ahead of tonight's match against Netherlands

Dutch will be 'as good as France' - Ogbene

Chiedozie Ogbene has warned that the Republic of Ireland must expect the Netherlands to be every bit as good as France in tonight's qualifier.

The Republic lost 2-0 to the French in Paris on Thursday but a win over the Dutch would resurrect hopes of potentially taking one of the top two spots in Group B.

"I think they [Netherlands] will be as good [as France]. We'll take nothing for granted," said Luton winger Ogbene.

Read more here

Getty Images

Chiedozie Ogbene and France star Kylian Mbappe tussle for the ball in Thursday's match in Paris

'The stakes are high' - Kenny

Republic of Ireland manager speaking to RTE Sport:

"It's a big game. This is our home, the Aviva Stadium, the atmosphere will be special here tonight. The players got home late from Paris, it was a tough game but they are rejuvenated and ready to go. They know the stakes are high for us, this is a match that we must try and win and we believe we can cause Holland problems."

Final preparations

Getty Images

Getty Images

Dutch delight

Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo was on the scoresheet as the Netherlands beat Greece 3-0 at the Philips Stadion on Thursday.

Marten de Roon opened the scoring from eight yards out with his first international goal before Gakpo chested down a Denzel Dumfries cross and smashed home.

Wout Weghorst, on loan at Hoffenheim from Burnley, headed in a third from another Dumfries cross.

Getty Images

Cody Gakpo celebrates his goal against Greece with fellow scorer Wout Weghorst

Matt Gault

BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

This pocket of Dutch fans are making the most noise at the Aviva.

They've been in fine voice since I took my seat in the press box half an hour ago.

The home side will hope that's not a sign of things to come.

BBC Sport

Irish aiming to bounce back after Paris defeat

The Republic's slim hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 were further dented as France ran out comfortable 2-0 winners at Parc des Princes on Thursday night.

Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni's stunning 19th-minute goal put the hosts ahead at the break.

Substitute Marcus Thuram ensured a home victory early in the second half as the French made it five wins from five.

Read more here

Getty Images

Marcus Thuram scores France's second goal in the win over the Republic of Ireland three days ago

All smiles at the Aviva

Getty Images

Getty Images

Getty Images

How they line up

BBC Sport

The Republic of Ireland starting XI

BBC Sport

The Netherlands starting XI

Matt Gault

BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

Interesting to note this piece in the match programme, which reflects on the end of Giovanni Trapattoni's reign.

The Italian took charge of his last match as Republic boss 10 years ago today.

After defeat by Austria spelled the end of Irish hopes of reaching the 2014 World Cup, Trapp's time was up.

Will Stephen Kenny's reign end exactly a decade on? It may well do with another defeat.

BBC Sport

The stage is set

Getty Images

Getty Images

As it stands

Getty Images

Euro 2024 qualifiers Group B

'Massive night for Republic and under-pressure Kenny'

Matt Gault

BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

Getty Images

Republic boss Stephen Kenny and coach Keith Andrews have a pre-game chat

It's an absolutely massive night for the Republic of Ireland and their manager Stephen Kenny.

The pressure is building on Kenny - and with good reason. He has said that he has shaped his squad with this qualifying campaign in mind.

But with three defeats in four matches, time is running out for Kenny to turn things around after failed bids to reach the Euros two years ago and last year's World Cup.

Nobody really expected the Irish to leave Paris on Thursday night with anything other than a defeat.

They were comprehensively outplayed by France and deservedly beaten, but while the Dutch represent a similarly daunting task, an expectant sell-out crowd at the Aviva this evening will demand a result.

The Republic are at least stronger on their own patch, as evidenced by March's narrow defeat by France. A similar level of energy and enterprise - while adding in a clinical edge in front of goal - will be required tonight or they can pretty much kiss their Euro hopes goodbye.

The hosts have arrived

Getty Images

Getty Images

Getty Images

Team news - McClean & Doherty in for Irish

Republic manager Stephen Kenny makes two changes from the 2-0 defeat by France on Thursday night.

In come James McClean and Matt Doherty with Enda Stevens and Jason Molumby the duo to drop out.

Netherlands beat Greece 3-0 three days ago and boss Ronald Koeman makes three changes for the game in Dublin.

Lutsharel Geertruida, Martin de Roon and former Manchester United loanee Wout Weghorst, who scored against the Greeks, drop out of the starting line-up.

They are replaced by Matthijs de Ligt, Mats Wieffer and Donyell Malen.

Republic of Ireland: Bazunu, Collins, Egan, Duffy, Browne, Knight, Doherty, Cullen, McClean, Idah, Ogbene.Subs: Kelleher, O'Leary, O'Shea, Manning, Smallbone, Hendrick, Molumby, Connolly, McGrath, Ebosele, Armstrong, Omobamidele.

Netherlands: Flekken, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Ake, Dumfries, Wieffer, De Jong, Blind, Simons, Gakpo, Malen.

Subs: Verbruggen, Noppert, Van de Ven, Weghorst, Lang, Berghuis, Hartman, Reijnders, De Roon, Veerman, Koopmeiners.

Getty Images

James McClean and Matt Doherty