Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson speaking on RTE:

"I give a lot of credit to Max O'Leary for six years he has been travelling and always ing the keeper.

"Tonight is his first cap and I am delighted we have the chance to give him a cap and a chance to show the Irish people how good he is."

As I said in the team news, tonight is Max O'Leary's debut for the Republic of Ireland.

It is six years after his initial call-up so the Bristol City stopper has certainly been made to wait for this moment!

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Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has warned that Luxembourg will be no easy task and a win will be "really good for us" when they meet in tonight's friendly.

In years gone by, Luxembourg may have been viewed as a minnow of European football, but that no longer applies, with a 1-0 win over Sweden in March a barometer of how far they have come.

In 2021, they secured a famous 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup qualifier in Dublin and although the tables were turned in the return game, it is further reminder of what Luc Holtz's team is capable of.

The teams come in with slightly contrasting fortunes as Luxembourg fell to a 1-0 home defeat by Slovenia on Friday, just as Hallgrimsson's side grabbed a 1-1 home draw against a Senegal side ranked 41 places above by Fifa.

"They have shown in the past how quickly they have developed as a football team," the 57-year-old said of the opposition.

"They have had the same coach for a long time, really consistent in team selection, so it's more like playing a club team. Their knowledge of the team and each other is really at a high level.

This will serve as the Republic of Ireland's final friendly outing before the World Cup qualifiers in September.

Going into that campaign with momentum would be most welcome, but Hallgrimsson acknowledges the challenge ahead.

"I watched the Sweden game when they played here - they beat Sweden 1-0, they could have scored more goals against Sweden," added Hallgrimsson.

"I know a little bit about them, and the strength of Sweden, so I wouldn't look at it as a shock to the nation if we would not get a good result here.

"It's that good a team that a win here would be really good for us at this stage. I hope nobody is taking them lightly, if that is the right word to say."

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"We talked before about who will be the player to take them to the World Cup? I think he is the biggest trump card."

Former Liverpool and midfielder Dietmar Hamann was full of praise for Caoimhin Kelleher after the Republic of Ireland's 1-1 draw with Senegal on Friday.

Kelleher's resolve was finally broken in the 81st minute after making three big saves to keep the African side out in Dublin.

It has been a big week for the 26-year-old, who left Liverpool to Brentford for an initial £12.5m, which could rise to £18m with add-ons.

According to former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given, "in the current climate he's worth every single penny, if not more".

"No disrespect to Brentford, but I'm surprised there wasn't a few more bigger clubs in," Given said on RTE Sport.

"Unless clubs have gone, 'let's have a look at him at Brentford. We know they are a selling club, let's see him as a number one for a year or two'.

"At 26 years of age he's still plenty young enough. He looks the real deal."

Read more of Given's thoughts on Kelleher here.

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Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins will be ed by international team-mate Caoimhin Kelleher at Brentford next season and the 24-year-old is delighted to have the chance to play with the goalkeeper for club and country.

"I am looking forward to it. I get on really well with him here. He shows his qualities, but it will be even better when we can train together every day and build our relationship a bit more, on and off the field, to help Brentford and Ireland as well," Collins said.

"I am buzzing for him. It's a great move for him and he deserves to be a number one at a club."

Friday night's 1-1 friendly draw with Senegal at Aviva Stadium extended the Republic's unbeaten run to three games under Heimir Hallgrimsson.

That run has come off the back of a 5-0 drubbing by England at Wembley in November, and Collins believes his side have grown since that defeat and will want to continue on an upward trajectory by beating an ever-improving Luxembourg this evening in their friendly.

"The hurt in the dressing room after [the England game], it was not a nice place. For me, it created a new hunger," he added.

"It did definitely reset me to want to do better and improve for the next camp. It might work in a good way for us."

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Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson says he is taking the positives from Friday's 1-1 draw with Senegal.

The excellent Kasey McAteer gave the Irish the lead in the 21st minute when he reacted quickest after Yehvann Diouf saved his initial header.

Senegal were unbeaten in 20 matches heading into the friendly and got a deserved equaliser when Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr scored from close range with nine minutes remaining.

"I'm happy with the performance and there are a lot of positive things we can take from this," Hallgrimsson told RTE Sport.

"The negative thing is we conceded goals from crosses. It wasn't tactical - there were enough bodies in the box but we need to be a little bit more brave."

The former Iceland manager handed a first start to Leicester City's McAteer and he rewarded the faith shown by his manager by netting the opening goal in Dublin.

Hallgrimsson said the 23-year-old put in a "really good performance" on his maiden international start.

"He showed a lot of confidence, took players on and got the goal as a reward," he added.

"I'm really happy for him."

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Substitute Ismaila Sarr equalised with nine minutes to play as Senegal drew 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Friday.

Kasey McAteer, on his first Irish start, scored the opener in the 21st minute as the hosts took a deserved lead against a Senegal side without key players Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Nicolas Jackson.

Ryan Manning's cross into the area was flicked on by captain Nathan Collins, and McAteer's initial header was kept out by a superb save from Yehvanne Diouf.

However, the Leicester City midfielder reacted quickest to bring the ball down, turn and fire the ball into the unguarded net.

New Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher produced a stunning, fingertip save to turn Krepin Diatta's header onto the crossbar, and was later called upon to push the ball off the line as Senegal pushed for an equaliser.

That came when Iliman Ndiaye's cross found Cherif Ndiaye, who forced Kelleher into another strong save but Sarr was alert to smash home the rebound in the 81st minute.

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Heimir Hallgrimsson makes five changes to the side who drew with Senegal last Friday.

There is a switch between the posts with Max O'Leary making his first appearance for the Republic of Ireland and replacing Caoimhin Kelleher.

Killian Phillips also makes his first start after his debut off the bench on Friday, with Jake O'Brien, Troy Parrott and Evan Ferguson also starting.

There are four alterations to the Luxembourg starting XI that were defeated by Slovenia.

Eldin Dzogovic, Florian Bohnert, Tomas Moreira, Aiman Dardari coming into the side replacing Mica Pinto, Leandro Barreiro, Tomas de Sousa and Brian Madjo.

Luxembourg: Pereira, Dzogovic, Jans, Korac, Carlson, Bohnert, Moreira, Barreiro, Da Sinani, Rodrigues, Dardari.

Subs: Barrela, Fox, Mahmutovic, Curci, Gerson, De Pina Duarte, V Thill, Veiga, Selimovic, Pinto, Videira, S Thill.

Republic of Ireland: O'Leary, O'Brien, Collins, O'Shea, Brady, McAteer, Knight, Phillips, Smallbone, Ferguson, Parrott.

Subs: Kelleher, Keeley, Doherty, Manning, Idah, Omobamidele, Moran, Scales, Ebosele, Taylor, Patrick, Lawai.

Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of tonight's international friendly between Luxembourg and the Republic of Ireland.

It is Heimir Halligrimsson's side's last game before the World Cup qualifiers start in September.

Will he decide to rotate his squad to assess his options or will he want to continue to build on the Republic's positive momentum generated by a four-game unbeaten run and prioritise another win?

Luxembourg will be a tricky opponent, evidenced by the fact they picked up a shock win against Sweden in March, so it promises to be a good test for the Republic.

As mentioned we will have live text commentary as well as a report and reaction to follow.

Thanks for ing us - enjoy!

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