Ireland considering friendly game against Albania prior to Euro 2012

Ireland considering friendly against Albania prior to Euro 2012

25 Apr 2012 09:00:00

Boys in Green have lined up a third pre-tournament game to boost their preparations for this summer's finals but have to confirm if the contest will go ahead

Giovanni Trapattoni may get an additional chance to assess his Ireland squad before Euro 2012 after it emerged Albania have made an offer to play a friendly.

The Boys in Green will face Bosnia-Herzegovina on May 26 with Hungary next up on June 4. A potential clash with Albania would be sandwiched between the two other friendlies on May 30 with the contest likely to be played in Italy where Ireland will have their pre-tournament training camp.

FAI CEO John Delaney has said manager Giovanni Trapattoni will make the final call on whether to take up the Albanian offer. The nations have met four times in total; during qualifiers for World Cup 1994 and Euro 2004 respectively with Ireland recording three wins and a draw.

The Italian veteran is expected to name his 23-man squad on May 7 with a handful of players on standby before the final lineup is rubber stamped by Uefa in advance of Euro 2012.

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