Finn Azaz Starts for Ireland While John Shea Makes Six Changes for the Hungry Friendly
Ireland will take on Hungary in a friendly match on Thursday night at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The match will serve as preparation for both teams ahead of their upcoming UEFA Nations League campaigns. Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has named a strong squad for the match, with several Premier League players included. West Ham United defender Aaron Cresswell, Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Jayson Molumby, and Sheffield United forward Callum Robinson are all in the squad. One of the most notable inclusions in the squad is Finn Azaz. The Aston Villa midfielder has been in impressive form for his club this season, and he is expected to make his debut for Ireland in this match. John Shea has made six changes to the Hungary squad that lost to Italy in their last match. RB Leipzig defender Willi Orban, Ferencvaros midfielder Adem Nagy, and MOL Fehervar forward Dominik Szoboszlai are all included in the squad. The match between Ireland and Hungary is expected to be a close and competitive contest. Both teams have quality players, and they will be looking to get a positive result ahead of their Nations League campaigns.
Ireland Starting XI:
* Gavin Bazunu (GK) * Seamus Coleman (RB) * Shane Duffy (CB) * John Egan (CB) * Enda Stevens (LB) * Josh Cullen (CM) * Jayson Molumby (CM) * Conor Hourihane (RW) * Callum Robinson (ST) * Aaron Connolly (LW) * Finn Azaz (AM)
Hungary Starting XI:
* Peter Gulacsi (GK) * Attila Szalai (CB) * Willi Orban (CB) * Endre Botka (RB) * Loic Nego (LB) * Andras Schafer (CM) * Adem Nagy (CM) * Dominik Szoboszlai (AM) * Roland Sallai (RW) * Adam Szalai (ST) * Daniel Gazdag (LW)Finn Azaz will make his first start for Ireland in Thursday’s friendly against Hungary as John Egan makes six changes to the team that lost to Norway on Saturday. Azaz, who qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents, has impressed since joining Aston Villa from Newport County in the summer. The 22-year-old winger has made four appearances for the Republic of Ireland, but this will be his first start. Egan has made a number of other changes to his team, with Seamus Coleman, Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy, Josh Cullen and Michael Obafemi all coming into the starting lineup. Darren Randolph, Nathan Collins, Ryan Manning, Jeff Hendrick and Troy Parrott drop out of the team that started against Norway. Ireland will be looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to Norway in Oslo on Saturday. The friendly against Hungary is the last chance for Egan to experiment with his team before the Nations League games against Scotland and Armenia next month. Ireland team to face Hungary: Randolph; Coleman, Duffy, Egan, Doherty; Cullen, Hourihane; Azaz, Obafemi, Robinson; Parrott
