Around 300 Republic of Ireland fans have made the long trip to Baku.

It looks like they're having a good laugh already.

Let's hope the football doesn't change that.

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In September, all three of the Republic's qualifiers featured late goals.

In Faro, Cristiano Ronaldo's stoppage-time double crushed Irish hopes of a famous win.

Three days later, Shane Duffy spared Stephen Kenny's blushes with an 87th-minute header to earn a point against Azerbaijan.

And last time out at home to Serbia, the Irish had to rely on a freak Nikola Milenkovic own goal to salvage a draw in another match report-busting moment.

So yeah, make sure you stay with us until the bitter end this evening.

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In case you missed it, Republic defender John Egan defended team-mate Callum Robinson's decision not to be vaccinated against Covid-19 despite twice contracting the virus.

"I suppose first and foremost, Cal was asked a question, he gave an answer," said Egan, who captains the side in Baku in Seamus Coleman's absence.

"He didn't come out and say he was against the vaccination or anything, so I was quite disappointed to see how many people jumped down his throat."

Read more from Egan and Stephen Kenny here.

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The Republic players were looking pretty chilled out ahead of kick-off in Baku.

Will we still be seeing those smiling Irish eyes come the final whistle?

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Will tonight will be the night Stephen Kenny finally secures his first competitive win as Republic of Ireland manager?

Let us know via Twitter.

The Olympic Stadium in Baku. The setting for this evening's game.

Pretty spectacular.

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Just two points from five games for the Republic, although they did come in their last two outings in the draws with this evening's opponents and Serbia.

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Gavin Bazunu has impressed in the Republic goal in recent games, not least against Portugal, when he saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty.

But the 19-year-old, who will win his eighth cap in Baku, is determined that thwarting the Manchester United forward won't be the defining moment of his career.

"I don't think about it too much," he said when asked about the save.

"But there are a lot of people who bring it up every now and again and it's a nice thing to be able to go back to. But I just want to kick on and I want to have another moment like that."

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When Chiedozie Ogbene was introduced as a substitute in the 89th minute of the Republic of Ireland's 0-0 friendly draw with Hungary on 8 June, it marked a significant milestone for both player and country.

The 24-year-old Rotherham winger - who is on the bench this evening - became the first Africa-born player to be capped by the Republic at senior level.

"It was a special moment for me and my family," explained Ogbene, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria in May 1997.

"We had a different journey. My father got a job opportunity and brought his family across to settle in Ireland in 2005 and I grew up in Cork, learnt the culture and integrated with the system.

Read more here.

Republic boss Stephen Kenny offers some insight into the rationale behind his team selection, in particular his chosen front three of Daryl Horgan, Adam Idah and Callum Robinson.

"The front three, Adam Idah has been passed fit," said Kenny.

"He had a very good window, direct running, showing his speed and his ability with his back to goal, so he just needs a goal and hopefully he can get it tonight.

"Daryl Horgan comes in as well, he's had a dynamic week in training. He can cross off either foot and gives us that dynamism that we want, and Callum Robinson on the right side, who'll be keen to do well after missing some games, he wants to have an impact."

Republic boss Stephen Kenny makes two changes from the draw against Serbia last time out with Daryl Horgan and Callum Robinson coming in for Jamie McGrath and Alan Browne.

John Egan captains the side in Seamus Coleman's absence.

The Irish front three of Daryl Horgan, Adam Idah and Callum Robinson have two goals between them in 46 caps.

Azerbaijan: Mahammadaliyev, Huseynov, Medvedev, Haghverdi, Krivotsyuk, Makhmudov, Garayev, Bayramov, Alaskarov, Emreli, Ozobic.

Republic of Ireland: Bazunu, Omobamidele, Doherty, Duffy, Egan, McClean, Cullen, Hendrick, Robinson, Horgan, Idah.

Stephen Kenny's competitive record as Republic of Ireland boss - seven defeats and five draws from 12 games - makes for grim reading from an Irish perspective.

There is no two ways about it: this has been a deeply dispiriting qualification cycle with Irish hopes of reaching Qatar next year dead with three games still remaining.

The only thing Kenny can do now is end the campaign on the high as he looks to the future by breaking his duck 13 months after taking charge for the first time.

But can the Republic do what they failed to do in Dublin and beat Azerbaijan? Going by what we saw at the Aviva Stadium five weeks ago, it's not going to be easy.

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