Republic of Ireland set for friendly in Turkey
The Republic of Ireland will kick off their 2018 campaign with a friendly game away to Turkey in Antalya on Friday, March 23.
The squad will assemble in Dublin on March 18 before departing the following day for their first international game of what should be an exciting year with UEFA Nations League games to come.
Ahead of the game in the New Antalya Stadium, Ireland will go through a four-day training camp on the country’s south-west coast before taking on a team currently sitting 10 places below them on the FIFA World Rankings.
The friendly game will allow Ireland to make their first return to Turkey since 1999 and set up the 14th meeting overall between the nations - where Ireland have held the upper hand with five wins compared to two for their opponents.
The Ireland squad now has two games to plan for following the recent announcement of a friendly encounter with France in Paris on May 28.
However, the focus next month will be on the UEFA Nations League when the draw for the group stages will be made on January 24.
